Severe knee injury

A severe knee injury is a closed injury, a trauma to one of the largest joints in the human body. The knee joint belongs to the group of condylar articulatio, so in Latin joints are called. The knee joint is formed by thickenings or condyles that move away from the femur, and the patellar structure includes the patella and the tibia.

Adjust the dynamic load on the knee of the meniscus - inner and outer (lateral). Meniscus is a cartilaginous tissue in the form of a crescent, which is located between the femoral and tibia. The motor activity of the knee is impossible without the ligaments that connect the bones, and also help to absorb and stabilize the load. Bundles in turn are divided into types:

• The ligament ligaments (located in the joint cavity) are anterior, not allowing the tibia to move forward, and the posterior ligament restraining the tibia from being displaced backward. 
• Collateral external ligament (lateral peroneal). 
• Collateral internal (lateral tibial).

All bones involved in the functioning of the knee are covered with cartilaginous tissue, which allows the joint to slip. Inside the joint is lined with a synovial membrane that gives off the lubricant, outside the joint is encased in a specific capsule-bag. The knee joint provides a multiaxial motion - rotational and linear. Since the knee is directly responsible for bending the leg, any damage to it, other than that which causes pain, but also carries the risk of immobilization.

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Severe knee injury, types of injuries

Simple bruise

Joint concussion is diagnosed by excluding more serious knee injuries. Most often, a simple bruise ends with a blow on the straight front of the knee or on its side. If, however, the blow goes along the tangent and is accompanied by the rotation of the hip, as with a fall or jump from a height, the ligaments or menisci are most often injured. And bruises and other types of knee injury are accompanied by swelling and pain, therefore, only an X-ray can differentiate the damage.

If the radiography has not detected serious damage and the injury is confirmed, the knee is fixed (immobilized) with a plaster langet for a period of not less than two weeks. It also happens that a strong knee injury is accompanied by a significant swelling, which suggests a possible hemarthrosis - a hemorrhage into the joint cavity. In such cases, the accumulated exudate is removed by puncturing, after 7-10 days, physiotherapy and gentle therapeutic exercises are shown. Also a strong knee injury is absorbed by resorptive ointments and gels based on heparin, horse chestnut extract or containing diclofenac. The knee joint is bruised within a month. 

Hemarthrosis

A severe knee injury can have a complication in the form of hemarthrosis - a minor or extensive hemorrhage into the joint cavity. Clinical manifestations manifest themselves very quickly, within a maximum of two hours - intense pain in the knee zone and its strong increase, puffiness. In addition, with hemarthrosis, it is almost impossible to step on the injured leg. Hemorrhage, as a rule, continues for a long time, stretching the joint capsule. If a severe knee injury is palpated, then one can feel the movement of the accumulated exudate under the skin (fluctuation). The skin of the knee is stretched, often bluish, the general condition is much heavier than with a simple bruise, the temperature may rise. If you do not help the patient in time, the blood begins to impregnate the cartilaginous tissue, forming clots inside it, which leads to inflammatory and degenerative changes in the articular cartilage. As diagnostic measures, a two-projection X-ray is shown, in addition, hemarthrosis is easily determined using a test for ballotting the patella ("drowning" the patella in the exudate and independent "ascent"). Mandatory is the puncture, which aspirates the accumulated fluid, then the knee is fixed with a langette or a pressure bandage. Fixation is removed no earlier than three weeks. Throughout the course of treatment, the use of chondroprotectors and anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs is indicated. This kind of bruise passes after one and a half to two months, if it is not accompanied by a rupture of menisci or sprains of ligaments. 

Injury to menisci

Meniscal trauma is also one of the frequent phenomena accompanying a strong knee injury. Severe bruise of the knee may initially hurt severely, but a person does not lose the ability to move. Only periodic difficulties in flexing or extending the leg, knee blockage when climbing up the stairs and increasing swelling can cause the patient to consult a doctor. Pain acquires a diffuse character ("diffuse" pain), in addition, internal hemorrhage develops into the cavity of the capsule - hemarthrosis. A severe knee injury with a suspected meniscus injury is diagnosed with orthopedic tests suggesting an axial load. Palpable and articular fissure, a characteristic sign of meniscus damage is the presence of isolated situational pain. Clarify the diagnosis with an anemomartografii, a special X-ray examination, in which air is injected into the joint cavity. The choice of method of treatment depends on the severity of the damage, regular punctures are possible, when they are not effective, an operation is performed. Also prescribed phonophoresis with application of hydrocortisone, medical applications on the joint, sparing restorative exercises.

Severe bruise of the knee, although it is one of the most common injuries, both domestic and professional, sports, a serious enough damage that can lead to deformation of the articular cartilage, and, consequently, to the loss of physical activity. Therefore, a bruise that does not go away within five to seven days with increasing edema of the knee should be treated with the help of professionals, that is, surgeons-traumatologists and orthopedists.