9 Common Knee Injuries in Car Accidents - Symptom/Treatment (2023)

FAQs

What is the most common knee injury from a car accident? ›

Fractures. A kneecap fracture is a common knee injury from a car accident. The force of impact may cause the knee to slam against the dashboard with enough force to partially or entirely break the kneecap bone, called the patella.

Doctors usually use a conservative treatment method called RICE for minor knee injuries. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, (gentle) Compression, and Elevation. If this conservative treatment method fails, a doctor may recommend physical therapy for some weeks or months.

The most common knee injuries include fractures around the knee, dislocation, and sprains and tears of soft tissues, like ligaments. In many cases, injuries involve more than one structure in the knee. Pain and swelling are the most common signs of knee injury.

Awkward movements, falls and collisions, sudden twists, excessive force or overuse can result in a range of injuries to the knee joint and the structures supporting it. Common knee injuries include ligament, tendon and cartilage tears, and patello-femoral pain syndrome.

The most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee. Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.

Can car accident cause torn meniscus? ›

Any type of excessively forceful rotation or twisting of the knee while it's under stress can result in a torn meniscus. This is why a torn meniscus is a very common injury suffered in car accidents.

No matter the cause, cartilage damage is challenging, because cartilage doesn't have its own blood supply. Therefore, it can't heal itself. Once cartilage is damaged, without treatment the damage stays the same or gets larger over time.

The quick answer is that the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) is most likely to be considered the worst ligament in the knee to tear.

In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates. If someone suspects a damaged ACL or MCL seek immediate medical attention.

The short answer is yes. After the pain and swelling subsides and if there is no other injury to your knee, you may be able to walk in straight lines, go up and down stairs and even potentially jog in a straight line. The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) is an important ligament that provides stability to the knee.

Some of the most common knee injuries include sprains, ligament tears, fractures, and dislocations. Many knee injuries can be successfully treated with simple measures, such as bracing and rehabilitation exercises. Other injuries may require surgery to correct.

The medial collateral ligament is injured more often than the lateral collateral ligament. Stretch and tear injuries to the collateral ligaments are usually caused by a blow to the outer side of the knee, such as when playing hockey or football.

Tendonitis of the patellar tendon is called jumper's knee. This often occurs with sports such as basketball, where the force of hitting the ground after a jump strains the tendon. Learn more about tendonitis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis that affects the knee.

MRI can show soft tissues, which are not usually visible on x-rays. MRI thus helps detect injury to tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscle. CT or MRI may be done to check for subtle fractures, which may accompany a soft-tissue injury.

How painful can soft tissue damage be? ›

When soft tissue is damaged, there is usually immediate pain along with immediate or delayed swelling (excessive swelling can slow the healing process – see treatment below). Stiffness is also very common as a result of the trauma and swelling.

Can an X-ray show torn ligaments in the knee? X-rays don't clearly and accurately show your soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons and meniscus. To diagnose a tear in your ligaments, tendons or meniscus, your healthcare provider will order a computed tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Red flags in physical examination

For those who are symptomatic can present with discoloration, pain, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the affected extremity (11). Homan's sign also has been widely used since the 1940s as an indicator for the presence of DVT in an extremity (12).

Make an appointment with your doctor if your knee pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact or if it's accompanied by: Significant swelling. Redness. Tenderness and warmth around the joint.

Do use "RICE." Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) is good for knee pain caused by a minor injury or an arthritis flare. Give your knee some rest, apply ice to reduce swelling, wear a compressive bandage, and keep your knee elevated.

Sitting for long periods of time

When you're inactive for an extended period, you may experience knee pain. Sitting for a certain length of time can cause your muscles and tendons to stiffen, and this can cause discomfort. Many people find themselves sitting for a long time at: work.

Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully. Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it.

Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell knee therapy is becoming a popular alternative to knee replacement surgery. Through a method known as autologous transplantation, the cells are extracted from the patient's bone marrow or fatty tissue, processed, and immediately injected into the damaged knee.

A minor knee sprain may take up to 6 weeks to heal, while a severe sprain may take months. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems.

Cooled radiofrequency treatment seeks to deactivate the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. A radiofrequency generator transmits a small current of energy through an insulated electrode or probe inserted into the target area.

What are three signs symptoms of a meniscus tear? ›

Pain. A torn meniscus usually produces well-localized pain in the knee. The pain often is worse during twisting or squatting motions. Unless the torn meniscus has locked the knee, many people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain.

The average settlement value for a torn meniscus in workers compensation claims is around $15,000 to $90,000. While some meniscus tears heal completely within one year, others result in lifelong pain and complications.

Walking builds your muscles so they can take the pressure off your joints and handle more of the weight themselves. That means less pain for your knees.

How Long Does a Knee Injury Take to Heal? For knee sprains or strains, the healing time is typically 2 to 4 weeks. For major injuries as a result of trauma, it can take from 4 up to 12 months. Of course, this healing time would be dependent on the treatment being administered and the lifestyle of the patient.

Although orthopedic surgeons do perform surgery on the musculoskeletal system when needed, they will first try to administer nonsurgical treatments for your knee pain if appropriate, such as pain-relief injections or physical therapy.

Grade 3: A grade 3 injury is a complete tear or rupture of the knee ligament. Grade 3 injuries often involve more than one knee ligament. With this level of injury, you will experience severe bruising, swelling and pain. You won't be able to put weight on the leg or bend the knee.

If left untreated, a small ACL tear will increase in size, causing more pain and increasing the laxity in the knee. Without a properly functioning ACL, the other structures of the knee experience greater strain, which causes further injuries to tissues in the knee.

Knee ligament tests involve a healthcare provider manually putting pressure on the four major ligaments of the knee to help determine if knee pain could be due to sprain or tear. Such tests include the anterior drawer test, the posterior drawer test, the valgus stress test, and the varus stress test.

Most common soft tissue injuries that cause posterior knee pain include sprains, ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, PCL, etc.), hamstring injury, patellar tendonitis, calf strain and meniscal tear. Longstanding arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) is also linked to knee pain.

What are the signs and symptoms of a torn ligament in your knee? ›

Knee braces are commonly used in the treatment of knee ligament injuries; they offer pain relief, joint protection, support and can aid the rehabilitation process. There are many different types of knee braces designed to offer different levels of support.

If your orthopedist recommends it, you can wear your brace all day. However, improper use of a knee brace can worsen your pain or cause further damage to the knee. If you are using a brace that immobilizes your knee, the joint can weaken.

Kneecap fractures are a common yet serious injury that usually requires immobilization or in some cases surgery to correct. Knee dislocations occur when the knee bones become out of place. This can occur after a major trauma such as a fall, car crash, or high-speed impact.

Torn patellar tendon

It attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone, and a complete tear separates the tendon from the kneecap. The leg should be able to handle full body weight once again four to six weeks following surgery, but it could take up to six months for a player to return to game action.

Can an MCL tear heal on its own? A grade 1 MCL tear (minor tear) can usually heal on its own with rest within one to three weeks. Grade 2 and grade 3 MCL tears, which are more severe, need proper treatment in order to heal, which can include resting, wearing a knee brace and doing physical therapy.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury: This injury also results from an impact. It normally accompanies other ligament injuries and limits range of motion. Pain from an MCL tear localizes to the interior of your leg in the knee area, while ACL and PCL injuries create pain in the kneecap area.

2. ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Injury. This common knee injury happens when the ACL is either sprained or torn. It happens most often while playing sports that have sudden starts, stops, and movement changes, such as football or soccer.

A minor knee sprain may take up to 6 weeks to heal, while a severe sprain may take months. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems.

But high-impact activities can make knee pain worse. Exercise like running, kickboxing, or high intensity interval training (HIIT) can jar your joints and make your knee pain worse. Some stretching exercises, like squats and lunges, can put extra pressure on your knees as well.