Knee injury: common causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options, recovery time. Knee injury from a fall: treatment and recovery Knee injury from a fall

In medical practice, knee injuries are quite common. Elderly people and those who lead an active lifestyle, engaging in various types of sports activities, or people who love extreme sports are often subject to such damage. If such an incident occurs, urgent emergency care is necessary for the victim in order to prevent the development of possible complications, and in order to provide it correctly, you need to know what kind of knee injuries there are and how to behave in a given situation.

In medicine, there are several types of knee injuries:

bruises;
ruptures and damage to the meniscus;
bleeding into the joint cavity;
patella injury;
damage to the knee ligaments;
articular fractures.

Causes

There are many factors and situations that lead to knee injury, but most often they occur for the following reasons:

mechanical shocks to the knee area;
falling from heights;
natural incidents;
engaging in vigorous or extreme activities;
road traffic accidents;
adverse weather conditions;
retirement age and deterioration of the stability function;
martial arts classes.

Bruises

The safest injury, which is characterized only by damage to the upper layer of the epidermis. Most often, such knee injuries occur during a fall and are rarely accompanied by unpleasant consequences.

First symptoms:

severe pain in the area of the injury;
the formation of bruises, abrasions and hematomas;
possible manifestation of soft tissue swelling at the site of the bruise;
manifestations of pain when trying to move the affected leg.

Diagnosis is carried out in a specialized institution under the supervision of an experienced doctor. The first step is to interview the patient, palpate the injury site, and then conduct an X-ray examination to rule out the presence of fractures and other more serious injuries.

Treating this type of knee injury is not difficult. The doctor recommends pharmaceutical preparations (ointments and gels) that will contribute to the speedy recovery of the knee and prescribes treatment of existing wounds using antibacterial agents. During the recovery period, the leg needs as much rest as possible. Also, to prevent infection from entering the wound, you need to wrap your knee with a bandage or bandage.

Bleeding in the joint area (hemarthrosis)

When a knee joint injury of this type occurs, blood enters the joint cavity, which leads to the onset of an inflammatory reaction in the synovium. This damage occurs as a result of a violation of the integrity of one of the parts of the knee joint.

First signs:

acute pain syndrome;
visual deformation of the injured joint;
deterioration in performance of the affected limb;
increase in body temperature.

In order to confirm hemarthrosis, a full examination is necessary using the following diagnostic procedures:

knee puncture;
X-ray;
arthroscopy.

Once the doctor confirms the presence of hemarthrosis, the necessary treatment tactics for the knee joint injury will be immediately prescribed. The first step is to remove blood from the knee joint cavity. After this, arthroscopy is very helpful for thorough rinsing. Next, the injured limb is fixed for two weeks using a plaster cast or orthosis. On the sixth day after the incident, physiotherapy procedures are prescribed, which are very helpful in restoring the knee joint:

magnetic therapy;
UHF and microwave therapy;
electrophoresis;
phonophoresis.

Meniscus injury

The most common type of knee injury. Often the internal meniscus is damaged. And in the event of an external injury, the usual functionality of the joint often deteriorates.

Symptoms:

acute pain at the site of the injury;
the occurrence of swelling of soft tissues;
deterioration in performance;
the appearance of hemarthrosis;
formation of abrasions, bruises and scratches.

If effusion is detected in the joint cavity, a puncture is performed.

Diagnostic methods are considered:

survey;
X-ray;
magnetic resonance therapy;
arthroscopy procedure.

This type of knee joint injury requires only surgical intervention. During the operation, the doctors’ task is to restore the cartilage plate and remove its dead particles. On the tenth day, the doctor prescribes rehabilitation after a knee joint injury, which consists of performing developmental exercises, attending massage treatments and physiotherapy.

Patella injury

Very often, a fracture of the patella is accompanied by disruption of the extensor function and the presence of intra-articular injuries of various types. There are several types of such fractures:

damage to only the cartilaginous part of the patella;
transverse;
marginal;
tear-off.

Typical symptoms of such injury are:

severe pain;
swelling of the soft tissues of the knee area;
the appearance of hemarthrosis;
when moving or palpating the pain becomes more intense;
visual change in the joint;
deterioration in motor function of the leg.

Diagnostic procedures are similar to those for meniscus damage. The first step is a puncture to remove the fluid in the joint cavity, and then a survey, radiography, ultrasound, MRI and an arthroscopy procedure are carried out.

Treatment for this knee injury is selected by a qualified physician based on the examination results and diagnosis. After the puncture, the limb is fixed in plaster for four months. And after it is removed, the doctor prescribes rehabilitation after a knee injury. It consists of physical therapy, visiting developmental massage and physiotherapeutic procedures. The rehabilitation period is also prescribed by the attending physician.

Damage to the joint capsule and ligaments of the knee

In the case of this injury to the capsule, ligaments and tendons, complete ruptures of the collateral and cruciate ligaments are very important. The causes of such damage are excessively active types of sports activities.

Symptoms of injury:

severe manifestations of pain;
feeling of overstrain in the muscle area;
difficult motor activity;
formation of various damage to the skin (scratches, abrasions, redness, hematomas, etc.).

To confirm such an injury, diagnosis is necessary using x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI or CT.

If there is fluid inside the joint, a puncture procedure is performed. It involves removing blood from the cavity of the knee joint. Next, an operation is performed, the task of which is to restore the integrity of the joint capsule, ligaments and tendons. After completion of the surgical intervention, the doctor prescribes wearing an articulated orthosis for one and a half months. To speed up the recovery process, exercise therapy for injury and special massage and physiotherapy procedures are prescribed.

Upon completion of treatment for each of the above injuries, recovery from injuries is imperative. The rehabilitation period and its methodology are assigned individually for each victim, based on the diagnostic results and the nature of the injury that occurred.

Joint pathologies cause serious problems in everyday life; knee injuries are especially difficult for people to endure. Due to its complex structure, restoring the functionality of the knee in case of damage is problematic. Any violation, be it a dislocation or a fracture, can lead to dangerous complications. Thus, frequent problems with damage to the knee joint are limited movement and acute pain. If immediate treatment is not started, trauma can result in disability.

Knowing the anatomy of the knee joint, we can conclude that the damage to this part of the body is diverse. Depending on the type of violation, treatment is selected.

So what are the types of knee injuries? Let's highlight the main ones:

- non-widespread damage, which, if it occurs, is rarely isolated. Accompanied by swelling, loss of sensitivity;
luxation of the patella– Caused by a sprain or rupture of the ligaments, patellar injuries usually occur in older children. Do not require serious medical procedures;
– a relatively harmless disorder that does not require long-term treatment. However, after a bruise, fluid may accumulate in the knee, which is why a puncture is performed;
tear of the posterior horn of the meniscus– one of the common problems, usually found among athletes. Often accompanied by a rupture of the cruciate ligament of the knee (ACL). It implies the development of hemarthrosis, due to which motor activity deteriorates. With constant deforming arthrosis progresses;
– if the femur and tibia are affected, the development of cracks and fractures is possible. The knee is characterized by closed fractures. The disorder is accompanied by displacement of the lower leg and pathological mobility of the joint. In the absence of adequate therapy, it leads to disability;
cartilage injury– rarely occurs separately and accompanies injuries to several structures and tissues of the knee joint. Provokes stiffness and acute pain;
sprain or rupture of ligaments– occurs due to overstretching. If we talk about the localization of damage, then the lateral and internal lateral, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee joint may be involved in the pathological process. Damage to the capsular-ligamentous apparatus of the knee joint is considered the second most common.

Trauma code according to ICD 10

Intra-articular lesions of the knee are coded according to ICD 10 – M23. If the ligamentous apparatus of the knee joint is dislocated, code S83 is given. Contusions are assigned separate codes. A bruised knee joint is coded S80.0.

Causes

Most often, knee injuries occur due to a fall. The risk group includes athletes: football players, gymnasts, hockey players. You can get a knee injury while running at speed or while dancing or playing tennis. Skating and alpine skiing are also potentially dangerous sports.

In football, athletes are more likely to suffer meniscus injuries. Active leg training often leads to overstrain of the capsular-ligamentous apparatus. Among sports injuries, the most common are sprains, bruises, and torn ligaments. Sometimes the injury is minor but permanent, as evidenced by discomfort after training.

Calyx injuries that occur in athletes are more difficult to treat, due to constant stress during exercise. If the traumatic factor is not eliminated, it is problematic to restore damaged structures.

You can also get a blow to the kneecap at home. When swimming, damage occurs during a jump or in shallow water. Weightlifting also has an adverse effect on the condition of the joints. Excessive loads lead to deformation of cartilage tissue and increase the risk of injury.

You can also get damaged in an accident, during icy conditions, or when wearing the wrong shoes. High-heeled shoes are especially dangerous - if your foot gets twisted, your knee joint and ankle will suffer. Diseases of the skeletal system increase the risk of joint damage.

Symptoms

In mild cases, signs of injury are blurred. This occurs when the patella is bruised or subluxated. The main symptoms of knee damage include:

severe pain syndrome;
crunching in the knee when moving;
local temperature increase;
gait disturbance;
pathological joint mobility;
fluid accumulation in the knee;
blockade is one of the characteristic symptoms of injury to the meniscus of the knee joint;
swelling of the knee;
numbness of the limb.

In the event of a fracture or rupture of the knee meniscus, immobilization is a sign of the disorder. It is impossible to move the lower leg back, or the victim cannot straighten the leg.

Knee pain accompanies any injury. If the cruciate ligament is injured, swelling occurs, movements are limited, and the moment of rupture is accompanied by severe pain. If the meniscus is damaged, the knee after an injury causes pain: the limb swells, clicks are heard during extension, severe swelling interferes with movements. If a knee injury occurs from a fall, hematomas occur.

First aid

At first, pain relief and decongestant therapy are required. For this purpose, a painkiller is given and cold is applied. Measures to immobilize the injured limb are also necessary. When a knee joint is injured, an elastic bandage is traditionally applied. In general, first aid for a knee injury is similar to first aid for other types of injuries. Cooling, pain relief and rest are essential to prevent complications.

What medications can be given for acute pain?? Standard analgesics and NSAIDs will help. If the pain does not go away, painkillers are given. Cold compresses can prevent the appearance of tumors and hematomas.

What to do if your knee is deformed? The limb should not be reset, but it should be immobilized. The peculiarities of immobilization for fractures and dislocations are taken into account - it is necessary to achieve immobilization, but not overtightening of the joint. If we are talking about ligament injuries, then immobilization is carried out with a wide elastic bandage. The bandage is applied from the upper end of the shin to the lower end of the thigh.

Diagnostics

An experienced doctor can determine the nature of the damage during the initial examination. A cracking sound during palpation and movement indicates a ruptured ligament or tendon. Fractures are accompanied by displacement of fragments and deformations in the joint itself. Multiple knee injuries require detailed diagnosis. Radiodiagnosis has proven itself well in traumatology and orthopedics. This is a set of measures that involve radiation studies to determine the condition of hard and soft structures.

The main radiodiagnostic methods in orthopedics include:

MRI and CT of the knee joint;
radiography;
ultrasonography;

Additional diagnosis of knee joint injuries involves arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure that provides a more complete understanding of the clinical picture and at the same time allows for therapeutic actions.

Treatment

If the pain syndrome is severe, then an anesthetic medication is offered, taking into account sensitivity. To relieve the symptoms of inflammation, a dimexide solution is recommended. Fractures, open wounds and sprains are treated differently. Injury to the meniscus of the knee joint is difficult to treat. Treatment is carried out in a hospital and requires an integrated approach. Injuries to the meniscus of the knee joint require the following treatment:

drug therapy for minor injuries;
with frequent blockades, suturing and resection of the meniscus are prescribed;
progressive synovitis requires minimally invasive procedures without surgery.

Treatment of knee meniscus injury at an early stage can be carried out without surgery. In case of crush injury, complete removal of the meniscus is prescribed.

If a fracture is suspected, it is important to transport the victim to a trauma center as soon as possible. In case of an impact injury, the knee does not bend; in the event of a side impact, the lower leg is displaced. Treatment methods for such injuries are selective and selected individually. Only a traumatologist can decide how to treat a knee injury. Traditionally, skeletal traction and plaster immobilization are used. Treatment of the knee joint at home after a fracture is impossible. If a knee injury is not treated and left unattended, complications will arise.

If there is no fracture and the meniscus is normal, the doctor may prescribe a bandage to immobilize it. Orthoses of varying degrees of rigidity, as well as elastic knee pads, are selected for the knee. They can be worn after treatment to prevent re-injury.

Often, after an old injury, the knee aches and hurts, which is a sign of a disorder in the capsular-ligamentous apparatus. If synovitis of the knee joint progresses, home treatment is recommended. The orthopedist prescribes systemic NSAIDs, external gels - Diclofenac, Voltaren.

In case of hemarthrosis of the knee joint after injury, treatment with ointments and physiotherapy is recommended. First, blood and fluid in the knee joint after injury are pumped out, then immobilization is carried out, and laser therapy is prescribed. If the accumulation of fluid in the knee joint continues after an injury, the cause of the disorder is sought and eliminated using a conservative or surgical method. Traditional treatment of knee joint injuries is combined with traditional medicine, herbal medicine, and exercise therapy.

Surgical treatment

If conservative treatment of a knee injury does not produce positive results, surgery is performed. Surgical intervention requires complex meniscus injuries, splintered and intra-articular fractures, ruptures of ligaments and tendons. Surgical treatment, which is carried out immediately after admission to the hospital, involves:

suturing and plastic surgery of ligaments– when the tissue dries out, it is replaced by tendon or synthetic material. The method is suitable for the treatment of injuries to the anterior, posterior and lateral ligaments. After surgery, the limb is immobilized;
arthroscopy– a method of examination and treatment of an injured limb, which involves performing punctures with preliminary application of a tourniquet to the upper part of the thigh. Allows you to excise fragments of the meniscus or cartilage and bone fragments in the event of a fracture;
osteosynthesis– involves fastening bone fragments with metal structures. Such treatment is necessary in cases where there is severe displacement. Typically, screws are used, less commonly plates and tie bolts are used.

Rehabilitation

After removal of the cast, a rehabilitation program is of great importance. Recovery of the knee joint after a serious injury will be long. Procedures are selected individually, taking into account the clinical picture of the patient’s age and the extent of the damage. Typically, rehabilitation after a knee meniscus injury includes exercise therapy, hardware physiotherapy, and knee massage.

The physical therapy program includes gymnastic exercises, yoga, and gentle traction methods. Massage of the knee joint for any injury should be performed by a specialist. One and a half months after the operation, it is recommended to use an exercise bike, treadmill, and weight training. Recovery time varies, but it takes several months, sometimes a year, to strengthen the knee.

The doctor will draw up an individual program for restoring the knee joint after a specific injury, explain how to strengthen the knee joint and avoid recurrent injuries. Restoring knee ligaments and muscles after injury is a prerequisite for gradually increasing the load. You should not overload a limb if muscle control is lost.

How to restore a knee joint after a fracture or ligament rupture largely depends on the age of the patient. Children and young people recover faster and start physical therapy earlier. For older people, massage and hardware physiotherapy are more suitable.

Physiotherapy

A physical therapy plan for a knee injury is drawn up taking into account the patient’s condition. Exercises to strengthen the knee joint include general gymnastics, recommended after an injury, and specific exercises to strengthen ligaments, increase supportability, and improve muscle tone.

The load on the knee joint after injury is increased gradually. Exercise therapy for a meniscus injury involves raising the straight leg, first without load, then with weights, which has a positive effect on the quadriceps femoris muscle and the capsular ligamentous apparatus. Also, after a meniscus injury, extension exercises are suitable for developing the knee joint, and later use an exercise bike.

In the rehabilitation of the knee joint after injury, hardware physiotherapy plays an important role. Physiotherapy will complement the set of exercises for injuries and speed up repair. Magnetic therapy, ultrasound, and infrared irradiation will benefit.

The program of measures to develop the knee after an injury includes paraffin baths and treatment with ozokerite. If you combine exercises to restore knee ligaments with salt baths, which are recommended to be done immediately after an injury, you will be able to overcome swelling and prevent contractures. A rehabilitation specialist will tell you more about how to develop a knee, since developing a knee joint takes a long time and requires patience.

Complications and consequences

Various factors lead to severe consequences of knee joint injuries: the presence of concomitant diseases of the musculoskeletal system, old age, non-compliance with doctor’s instructions, refusal of emergency treatment.

Old meniscus injuries lead to chronic inflammation and atrophy, arthrosis, and stiffness. The consequences of damage to the meniscus of the knee joint also include contractures and bursitis. Often, after a fracture or rupture of the ligaments, the knee does not straighten or does not straighten enough. If appropriate post-traumatic treatment is not provided, chronic disorders can lead to disability.

Dear readers of the 1MedHelp website, if you still have questions on this topic, we will be happy to answer them. Leave your reviews, comments, share stories of how you experienced a similar trauma and successfully dealt with the consequences! Your life experience may be useful to other readers.

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Date of: 2016-10-17 Views: 32 655 Grade: 5.0 Probably every person has been bothered by pain in the knee joint at least once in their life. The reason for this may be both acute damage due to trauma and age-related degenerative changes in joint tissue. This is due to complex anatomy, as well as increased loads experienced by the knee. In the statistics of sports injuries, knee injuries occupy a leading position. Quite often, it is the knee that causes the end of the career of professional athletes. As I already said, the structure of the knee joint is very specific and has a number of features. 1. In fact, the knee joint consists of two joints: the femorotibial joint and the patellofemoral joint. Very often, after a trauma, patello-femoral conflict syndrome develops. This occurs due to traumatization of the articular surface of the patella, which becomes uneven, as if rough. The patella can no longer slide normally along the surface of the thigh, which causes pain when flexing and extending the leg. 2. In the cavity of the knee joint there are menisci, cartilaginous formations that play the role of a kind of gaskets. These structures can be damaged even with minor traumatic effects. 3. Complex ligamentous apparatus of the joint. In addition to the external, extra-articular ligaments, there are two cruciate ligaments in the knee cavity: anterior and posterior. These structures are also quite often subject to trauma.

It is one of the most common injuries. Occurs, as a rule, with a direct blow, or with a fall on the knee. It is characterized by pain, both at rest and when moving the leg, and swelling of the soft tissues. Sometimes a hematoma appears, which spreads to the lower leg and thigh within 2-3 days. Does not require specific treatment. Cold is applied to the knee for 15-20 minutes. with a break for an hour, then again and so on 3-4 times during the first two days. Anti-inflammatory ointments can be used. For severe pain - analgesics. The leg must be given rest for 7-10 days. During this time, as a rule, everything passes. If there is severe swelling or severe pain, it is better to consult a doctor.

II. Sprain

Knee injuries are also quite common. Clinically, it is not particularly different from a bruise, i.e. it is also accompanied by pain and swelling of the tissue. Sometimes there may be a feeling of instability, twisting of the leg when standing up. It can only be accurately confirmed by ultrasound results. Painkillers and cold are also used in treatment. It is necessary to immobilize the leg in a knee brace for up to 10-12 days.

III. Meniscal damage

As a rule, the mechanism of injury is a twisting of the leg with a fixed shin (for example, this often happens when skiing). In most cases, the internal meniscus is damaged, since it is more tightly fused with the joint capsule. When injured, intense pain is noted on the side of the kneecap. A possible symptom of “locking” the knee is when the victim cannot bend the leg due to intense pain and the feeling of a foreign body inside the joint. Damage to the meniscus is often accompanied by hemarthrosis, an accumulation of blood in the joint. If this injury is suspected, the leg should be immobilized immediately by applying a splint or bandage. You must immediately contact a traumatologist. The doctor conducted an appropriate examination for a final diagnosis. The most informative way to confirm injury data is MRI of the knee joint. Recovery in such cases takes from 1 to 2.5 months, depending on the degree of damage and the treatment performed.

IV. Knee ligament rupture

One of the most severe knee injuries. Due to the peculiarities of biomechanics, the anterior cruciate ligament is more often damaged. If it is completely ruptured, the supporting function of the joint is impossible. When a person's cruciate ligament is damaged, they experience a dislocation, a feeling of instability in the leg. Often injuries are accompanied by severe pain and swelling. Cruciate ligament injuries are diagnosed using “drawer syndrome.” The affected knee is bent at a right angle and an attempt is made to move the shin back or push it forward. If it moves forward, then the person has an injured anterior cruciate ligament, and if it moves backward, then the damage has affected the posterior cruciate ligament. Treatment is aimed at reducing pain and swelling of the joint. Cold is applied to the injury site, painkillers are given, and the injured limb is provided with complete rest. The diagnosis is also clarified through tomography. Partial ligament damage is treated conservatively. In case of complete rupture of the ligamentous apparatus, they resort to plastic surgery of the ligaments or their endoprosthetics.

They account for 0.4-0.7% of the total number of dislocations of all joints. The likelihood of patellar dislocation increases with a shallow patellar cavity, a poorly developed lateral femoral condyle, and a violation of the relationship between the axis of the quadriceps muscle and the patellar ligaments. As a rule, the cause of patellar dislocation is direct trauma (a fall on the knee joint, a side blow to the patella area), combined with contraction of the quadriceps muscle. Acute traumatic dislocation of the patella is accompanied by severe pain. The knee joint is slightly bent, increased in volume, expanded in the transverse direction (with lateral dislocations). Movements in the joint are impossible. On palpation, the patella is displaced to the side. Sometimes a traumatic dislocation of the patella is reduced spontaneously. Patients in such cases report an episode of sharp pain in the leg, which was accompanied by a feeling of buckling and displacement in the knee. After a self-reduced patellar dislocation, slight or moderate swelling in the knee joint area is observed. Acute patellar dislocation is usually treated conservatively. The dislocation is reduced under local anesthesia. The limb is flexed at the hip joint (to relieve tension on the quadriceps tendons) and extended at the knee joint. Then the patella is carefully shifted until the dislocation is eliminated and a plaster splint or bandage is applied for up to 4 weeks.

VI. Fractures of the bones forming the knee joint

This type of injury usually causes intense pain, which forces the victim to immediately consult a doctor. In this review, we will not analyze such damage, leaving this work to professionals. Thus, we examined the most common injuries in the knee joint. Once again, I note that it is not always worthwhile to self-medicate. If you are in doubt about the nature of your injury. If swelling in the knee area does not go away for a long time or even increases, and the pain does not stop, consult a specialist. The sooner the correct diagnosis is made, the greater the chances of recovery.

Knee injury is almost inevitable in the lives of people who lead an active lifestyle. Every person who is careless suffers damage to a joint of varying degrees of complexity at least once in their life. Most older people suffer from the consequences of such injuries when they experience age-related changes in the tissues of the knee and a decrease in the body's reserves. A knee injury occurs when you fall.

Domestic injuries. There are different types of joint injuries. Bruising, numbness, changes in skin tone, swelling, and severe pain appear. After a knee injury, the consequences of the injury cause the patient to be unable to work.

Sudden joint injuries. Superficial wounds:

Abrasions are the most common type of knee injury. The top layer of skin is damaged. Having received such a microtrauma, the victim feels a burning sensation and pain. The red spot at the site of the injury often swells and bleeds. The intensity of bleeding depends on the depth of the abrasion.
This superficial wound does not pose a great threat to life, but the healing process will be complicated if the wound becomes infected and the damaged area of skin becomes inflamed. It is important to know how to treat abrasions to avoid complications.
Treatment for a knee abrasion should begin immediately after the injury occurs. If the skin is damaged, it is necessary to wash the damaged area with plenty of water and antibacterial or laundry soap, and treat it with hydrogen peroxide and brilliant green.
When a knee is bruised, bone and soft tissue structures are compressed, small vessels are damaged, and nerve endings are irritated. Injury to the knee joint leads to complications. Such damage threatens the destruction of soft tissues, loss of physical activity, and deformation of cartilage.
The limb is deformed when the knee joint is dislocated, and its functions are significantly impaired. The shell of the bone joint and the ligamentous-articular apparatus are damaged, and swelling of the knee appears. The affected limb is in an abnormal position. The kneecap is displaced. Painful clicks accompany every step.
When the knee pad is displaced, there is a feeling of the joint slipping and instability during movement. Every movement of a limb causes excruciating pain. Only a specialist can perform the reduction of a dislocation.

Due to a sharp fall on the knee, the following often occurs:

Deformation in the form of cracks in the kneecap, fractures. A rupture of the cruciate ligament is often caused by direct blows to the knee, thigh, or shin.
Meniscus and ligament rupture. Occurs when there is internal damage to the joint. In children under 15 years of age, this type of injury practically does not occur due to their physiological characteristics. Physiotherapy will help the victim regain full health.
Intra-articular fracture of the bones of the knee joint. Open fractures are especially dangerous. A sharp contraction of the knee muscles leads to stretching of the tendons and ligaments.
Hemarthrosis is serious tissue damage resulting from hemorrhage into the joint cavity. If a knee injury occurs, symptoms appear immediately. Normal blood circulation is disrupted, causing unbearable pain. This often happens when you hit or fall on your knee. Complete destruction of the joint occurs if treatment was carried out incorrectly. In the active phase of the disease, physiotherapy is effectively used.

Pre-medical measures

Everyone should be able to competently provide assistance to a victim with a knee injury before the ambulance arrives.

Using a piece of ice can effectively relieve pain and minor swelling from a knee injury. The victim will feel significant relief if a compress with ice is briefly applied to the injured knees several times a day.

Urgent Care

Damage to the knee joint is very dangerous. Loss of performance and very serious complications threaten the victim if there is delay. When should you go to see a traumatologist?

If characteristic symptoms occur:

large swelling;
persistent pain that remains at the same level or intensifies;
pronounced local redness of the skin;
increased tissue tension;
increase in general and local temperature in the injury area;
After a blow to the knee, the joint does not bend.

Emergency medical care is necessary for the patient if:

bone crushing;
leakage of blood beyond the vascular bed of the injured knee;
symptoms of traumatic shock;
limb deformation after a fracture;
displacement of the bones of the articulation.

In these cases, treatment should be immediate.

Diagnosis of knee injuries. An x-ray is taken, but it does not show any damage to the fine structures: cartilage, ligaments, tendons. Such injuries can be diagnosed using MRI. If necessary, additional studies are prescribed

Treatment for each injury is selected individually

Depending on the characteristics of the functional damage, the doctor chooses treatment tactics. The traumatologist takes into account the nature of the injury to the knee joint and the degree of destruction of the knee structures.

The treatment complex may include conservative treatment:

Therapeutic measures that can relieve swelling and inflammation, improve the condition of joint tissues, and get rid of uncomfortable restrictions on the mobility of the knee.
If necessary, apply a bandage to the damaged area. The bandage cannot be removed from the wound without the permission of the traumatologist. To prevent traumatic swelling from increasing, the bandage should not be applied too tightly.
Wearing an orthosis. In each case, this fixation splint should be selected by an orthopedic surgeon. If you select it incorrectly or wear it constantly, there is a risk of developing tromophlebitis.
The patient is shown a gentle regimen. A sore knee needs rest. Crutches and a support cane are used to reduce the load on the affected knee joint.

Surgery

Arthroscopy is often performed. This is a type of surgery. Small incisions are made, and with the help of optics, the surgeon can perform the necessary manipulations. Adequate anesthesia makes the operation painless. Within 1-2 weeks after surgery, the affected limb should be provided with complete rest.

Surgical treatment is indicated for some serious injuries:

Instability of the knee joint due to sprained ligaments. When performing movements, the knee moves. The knee joint needs to be stabilized.
Damage or rupture of the meniscus with limited joint mobility. Deformation and separation of cartilage tissue. Rupture of ligaments, tendons, quadriceps muscles. Instability of the patella or its dislocation.

Rehabilitation measures:

Physiotherapy. The doctor decides what motor actions the patient can perform and at what stage of treatment it is advisable to prescribe exercise therapy. Therapeutic exercises should not be done if there is severe pain. Intensive physical therapy should only be carried out under the guidance of a specialist.
Performing special exercises helps improve trophism and tissue regeneration. Individually for a particular patient, a physical therapy instructor recommends exercise therapy for a knee injury. This is a complex of flexion-extension movements that strengthen the ligamentous apparatus and muscular system of the knee joint.
Physiotherapy aimed at restoring the ligamentous apparatus and musculoskeletal structures. Therapeutic massage has a beneficial effect on the healing process of a damaged knee. Recovery from injury occurs faster, and the functions of the injured limb are effectively restored. But if such a reflex and mechanical effect on the affected joint causes pain, medical massage cannot be performed.

Broken knees always require attention. Any type of injury to the knee joint must be treated. If the patient is seriously injured, it is necessary to urgently contact a traumatologist for medical help.

Rehabilitation must be carried out in full. A few years later, an ignored injury may come back to haunt you. The quality of life will be constantly reduced by intense pain after physical exertion and when the weather changes. Physiotherapy and exercise therapy will help maintain joint stability.

The knee joint is most often subject to injury, since it is the largest and takes on the entire weight of the body, as well as the load associated with walking, running and other movements.

Types of injuries

Knee injuries are inevitable in our lives. They are often diagnosed not only in athletes, but also in people not related to professional sports.

In addition to the fact that the knee joint is very large, it also has a rather complex structure. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to identify which of its components (tendons, menisci, cartilage, etc.) is damaged.

The following types of knee injuries are distinguished:

Injury. Typically the mildest injury is the knee joint. Occurs due to a direct blow to the front or side of the joint. Most often, a knee bruise is diagnosed after a person falls or when he hits something with his knee.
Ruptures and damage to the internal and lateral menisci. They arise as a result of a sharp lateral movement of the knee with a fixed foot. Meniscus tears and injuries are most often observed in athletes and in most cases require immediate surgical intervention.
Sprains (tears) and ruptures of ligaments. They occur in the event of a direct impact on the knee joint of great traumatic force. Ligaments can rupture (or tear) during falls from a height, car accidents, or playing sports (in particular hockey, wrestling).
Dislocations of the knee joint and patella occur quite rarely, as well as ligament tears occur due to serious injuries.
Intra-articular fractures of the patella, femur or tibia. Patellar fractures occur mostly in older people as a result of a fall.
Cartilage damage very often accompanies a knee bruise, joint dislocation or intra-articular fracture.

Treatment

To alleviate your condition and relieve the pain that accompanies almost any knee injury, you should know the basic rules of first aid:

Try not to move the damaged joint, keep it at rest.
Apply something cold, such as an ice pack, to the sore area; the cold will relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Apply a bandage to your knee, but do not overdo the bandage; the bandage should be moderately tight.
Keep the affected limb in an elevated position, such as on a pillow.

If the pain does not subside, the knee is swollen, and there is deformation of the joint or signs of hemarthrosis (bleeding into the joint cavity), you should immediately consult a doctor.

In most cases, treatment should take place in a hospital, under medical supervision.

Since the symptom of any injury is severe pain, to eliminate it you will need to take painkillers, anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs, including diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, etc.

Treatment for bruises depends on the severity of the injury, but usually can be done at home. For a slight bruise, all that is required is immobilization (rest) of the damaged joint and an elastic bandage on it. For more serious bruises, it is possible to apply a plaster splint (splint) to the affected limb.

Treatment of meniscus damage and ligament tears consists of immobilizing the joint by applying a plaster splint or a plaster splint (orthopedic knee joint fixator) along the entire length of the limb. But unlike bruises, when a splint is applied for 10-20 days, in case of damage to the menisci and ligaments, the splint (spont) is removed after 5-8 weeks.

If hemarthrosis or synovitis is observed with such injuries, then before applying a splint, steps are taken to extract blood (or synovial fluid) from the damaged area, as well as inject a solution of novocaine into it.

Ligament and meniscus tears practically cannot be avoided without surgical intervention. And the faster it is carried out, the more effective its results will be. The surgeon’s task is to remove torn menisci, restore torn ligaments, and carry out general correction of the joint.

After surgery, a plaster splint is indicated for at least 6 weeks.

Diagnostics

It is often difficult even for an experienced surgeon to make the correct diagnosis. So, for example, it is very difficult to tell just after feeling (palpating) the knee whether the ligament is torn or just torn. For this reason, X-rays of the joint are performed to diagnose any knee injury.

During the treatment period (when the joint is in a splint), as well as during the rehabilitation period after injury, in order to avoid the development of muscle atrophy, it is important to repeatedly lift and lower the affected limb.

Traditional surgical intervention has been replaced by arthroscopy. The advantage of arthroscopic treatment is its low morbidity, high degree of diagnosis and early activation of the patient. The patient is allowed to walk with the help of crutches immediately after the operation, and in most cases they do not even limit the motor activity of the joint with plaster splints.

Rehabilitation

Depending on the severity of the damage, rehabilitation after a knee injury can last from two weeks to a year. It includes:

therapeutic exercises, that is, daily performance of special physical exercises to develop and strengthen the muscles and ligaments of the joint, as well as to eliminate joint contracture, which is often caused by long-term immobility
physiotherapeutic procedures (paraffin baths, ozokerite, mud therapy and others)
massage is an excellent way to improve intra-articular blood supply
water procedures have an excellent effect on the restoration of the previous motor activity of the joint.

After damage to the meniscus or cartilage, rehabilitation usually lasts 2-6 weeks depending on the severity of the damage.