Knee Injuries: Common Orthopaedic Signs and Symptoms

Knee Injuries

Knee Injuries are some of the most common orthopaedic injuries. The knee is a complex joint that supports the entire body and takes on a lot of daily stress. No matter your activity level, weight or age, your knees are susceptible to injury.

Types of Knee Injuries

Some of the most common types of knee injuries include fractures, dislocations, sprains and tears. Ligaments, tendons and the meniscus are components of the knee that can easily sustain an injury. If experiencing knee pain or instability, it is important to get the appropriate diagnosis in order to determine the right course of treatment.

• Meniscus tears are often the result of a twisting, pivoting or a cutting motion. This is a common sports injury but can also result from arthritis or a fluke motion while trying to get up from a seated position.
• Knee fractures typically occur from a motor vehicle accident or falling from a significant height. Types of knee fractures include patellar fractures, distal femur fractures and proximal tibia fractures.
• Tendon tears involving the patellar tendon or the quadriceps tendon are common in people who play sports that involve running and jumping. Direct force to the front of the knee can also result in a tear of one of the knee tendons.
• Knee dislocations occur when bones of the knee are forced out of place. These injuries can result from sports related contact, a fall, or a motor vehicle accident.
• Anterior cruciate ligament injuries most often occur while playing a sport such as soccer, football or basketball. The injury typically results from landing incorrectly or changing direction rapidly.
• Posterior cruciate ligament injuries occur frequently from trauma to the front of the knee, while the knee is bent. This type of injury is common in motor vehicle accidents and sports.
• Medial collateral ligament injuries are typically contact injuries that are caused by a direct blow to the outside of the knee.
• Lateral collateral ligament injuries are less common as they result from a blow to the inside of the knee, pushing it outwards.

Symptoms and Treatment

With such a variety of injuries that can occur in the knee, it is clear that proper evaluation and diagnosis are key in finding the correct treatment. If you are suffering from knee pain that doesn’t subside or worsens over time, it is important to be evaluated by an orthopaedic surgeon. Swelling as well as  inability to bend or straighten the knee are also signs that you may have one of the above injuries. Some injuries will require surgery but others may heal on their own or with physical therapy.