Joint symptoms like locking, catching, or giving way suggesting a physical structural block.
A cluster of patient-reported symptoms—true locking (inability to fully extend/flex), catching, clicking with pain, or episodes of giving way—thought to reflect a structural derangement (e.g., a displaced meniscal fragment or loose body) rather than pain from inflammation or degeneration alone. The term is used inconsistently across studies: some restrict it to true locking, others include any catching or popping, which limits comparability between trials and complicates its use as a surgical indication. Clinicians should specify which specific symptom(s) are meant rather than relying on the umbrella term alone.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.