The following three types of knee radiographs are commonly used: a. The most common knee radiograph is the knee x-ray, which is done from a basic examination in the majority of patients with knee pain. An x-ray of the knee is the most basic examination of the knee joint and can detect the presence of knee fractures, dislocations, and osteophytes. Second, if you need to determine whether there is an occult knee fracture, you can further confirm the diagnosis with a CT examination of the knee, which can reveal the location of the knee fracture and the fracture in more detail. Third, if you want to check for joint effusion, ligament damage, or meniscus damage, you should usually have an MRI of the knee, which is the most detailed non-invasive imaging test of the knee.