Table 1 Contents of SMILE tool

Non-traumatic onset of knee pain

The first question is related to the onset of knee pain e.g. if the onset is non-traumatic with symptom getting worse and with no traumatic event at that point of time

Symptoms and pain localisation

Pain during loading activities

Pain outside the knee joint

Pain anterior on the knee ➔ where on front of the knee (tuberosity of the tibia, lower pole of the patella or around/behind the patella)

Pain lateral on the knee or at the distal thigh

Pain on the medial side of the knee

Pain on the posterior side of the knee

Pictures of pain localisation

Each diagnosis is presented with a picture of the precise pain localisation

Tentative diagnosis – information boxes of each diagnosis

Pain localisation on palpation

Epidemiology with sex differentials and age range

Differential diagnoses

Consist of the most important diagnoses that may not be missed in the clinic. Their symptoms and clinical characteristics