Most traumatic knee problems have a favourable prognosis and can be treated by the general practitioner. The course of knee symptoms and the impairment of knee function are more important for decisions about the management of knee problems than the results of physical examination of the knee. The additional value of general practitioner referral for MRI of the knee has not been established yet. Reasons for urgent referral to an orthopaedic specialist are: a knee fracture, an acutely locked knee, and a patellar dislocation.