Kirkstall Sports Injury Clinic
Referral letter16 October 2026
Private & Confidential
Mr A. Bhattacharya
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Knee)
Orthopaedic Knee Clinic
Dear Mr Bhattacharya,
Re: Mr Callum Fairbrother
Date of Birth: 26/06/1997
Address: 14 Larkspur Close, Allestree, Derby, Derbyshire
Postcode: DE22 2XQ
Mobile: 07700 900417
Thank you for seeing Mr Fairbrother, a warehouse supervisor whom I assessed today for a right knee injury.
Subjective history
Three weeks ago Mr Fairbrother sustained a non-contact twisting injury to his right knee when his foot stayed planted while turning during 5-a-side football. The knee swelled the same evening. Since then he has had intermittent locking, where he cannot fully straighten the knee until it releases with a click, and episodes of giving way, most recently on the stairs on Saturday. Pain is 6/10 when the knee catches and 2-3/10 otherwise. He has no previous history of injury to this knee and has had no imaging.
Clinical findings
On examination there was a mild effusion (sweep test 1+). Active flexion was 115° on the right compared with 145° on the left, with a 5° extension deficit and a 5° quadriceps lag. He was tender along the medial joint line. McMurray's test was positive medially with a palpable click and Thessaly's test was positive at 20°. Lachman's test was negative with a firm end-feel and the knee was stable to valgus stress at 0° and 30°. Gait was antalgic.
Physiotherapy recommendations
Given the mechanical locking and positive meniscal tests, I suspect a medial meniscal tear and would be grateful for your opinion, including whether a bucket-handle tear needs to be excluded. I have recommended an MRI scan of the right knee. In the meantime he has started a home exercise programme and has been advised to avoid football and twisting activities. I will review him in one week.
Kind regards,
Ellie Brennan
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, HCPC
Trent Valley Physio & Rehab,
27 Friar Gate,
Derby,
DE1 1XF
T: 01632 960418
E: reception@trentvalley.test