Treatment for a Fractured Kneecap
- Urgent Care. Patella fractures can cause extensive bleeding into the joint. Emergency treatment may include draining...
- Nonsurgical Treatments. Physical therapy and walking aids to help you regain strength and independence.
- Kneecap Repair Surgery. Surgical treatment is typically recommended for more severe kneecap fractures. ... Remove...
- A cast or splint to hold the leg in place while the bone heals.
- Preventing or reducing weight-bearing.
- Pain medications (opioid pain medication may be appropriate for the first few days after a severe kneecap fracture, followed by non-opioid options)
How do I treat a knee fracture?
Sep 17, 2017 · Contents Step 1: Sit gently on the floor with your injured leg straight and the other bent Step 2: Tighten the muscles in your thigh to press the back of your fractured knee against the floor. Step 3: Hold the position for at least 10 seconds, then …
What is the best treatment for a fracture?
A doctor might also recommend you avoid doing any repetitive movements which includes the following: Squatting Deep knee bending Climbing stairs Going up and down ladders
What type of treatment is best for a knee injury?
Treatment for a Fractured Kneecap Urgent Care. Patella fractures can cause extensive bleeding into the joint. Emergency treatment may include draining... Nonsurgical Treatments. Physical therapy and walking aids to help you regain strength …
How do you heal a knee injury Fast?
Treatment of a knee fracture depends on the fractured bone and the type of fracture. If the parts of the bones are well aligned, a brace or cast on the knee may be enough. If the kneecap is affected, surgery may be necessary. Therefore, recovery from the injury depends on the fractured bone, the type of fracture, the treatment, and its progression.
How long does it take to recover from a fractured knee?
Most patients will be able to return to their normal activities within 3 to 6 months. For patients with severe fractures, the return to activity may take longer. Your doctor may suggest some lifestyle changes to help protect your knee and prevent future problems.
Can you walk with a fractured knee?
In most cases, patients can walk while the bone heals as long as the brace keeps the knee straight during ambulation. Most patients use crutches, a walker or a cane for stability during the healing process.
Can a knee fracture heal without surgery?
Stable patella fracture: In a stable fracture, also called a “nondisplaced” fracture, the broken pieces of your bone remain essentially in the right place. They may still be connected to each other, or they may be separated by a millimeter or two. This type of fracture usually heals well without surgery.Nov 12, 2021
How long should knee pain last after a fall?
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.Jan 31, 2020
How is a hairline fracture of the knee treated?
Medical treatments Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches to keep weight off an injured foot or leg. You can also wear protective footwear or a cast. Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it's important to modify your activities during that time.
Can a knee fracture heal in 4 weeks?
Healing: The fracture will take 6 weeks to heal. Some pain and swelling may be on going for 3-6 months.
How do you know a fracture is healing?
When you touch the fractured area, the pain will lessen as the fracture gets more solid. So, one way to tell if the broken bone is healed is for the doctor to examine you – if the bone doesn't hurt when he touches it, and it's been about six weeks since you broke it, the bone is most likely healed.Aug 28, 2010
How do you sleep with a broken patella?
How do you sleep with a broken patella? Since you'll be wearing a brace, cast, or splint to keep your knee immobile, sleeping on your back is likely to be most comfortable position. You may also want to use pillows underneath the knee to keep it slightly elevated.Aug 8, 2021
What type of surgery is needed to repair a knee injury?
If you choose to have surgery, your options may include: Arthroscopic surgery . Depending on your injury, your doctor may be able to examine and repair your joint damage using a fiber-optic camera and long, narrow tools inserted through just a few small incisions around your knee.
How to heal a knee injury?
Self-care measures for an injured knee include: Rest. Take a break from your normal activities to reduce repetitive strain on your knee, give the injury time to heal and help prevent further damage. A day or two of rest may be all you need for a minor injury. More severe damage is likely to need a longer recovery time.
How to help a knee that hurts?
Heat. You may experience temporary pain relief by applying a heat pack or hot-water bottle to the painful area on your knee. Compression. This helps prevent fluid buildup in damaged tissues and maintains knee alignment and stability. Look for a compression bandage that's lightweight, breathable and self-adhesive.
How to make your knee more stable?
Strengthening the muscles around your knee will make it more stable. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or different types of strengthening exercises based on the specific condition that is causing your pain.
How to check if knee is swollen?
Check to see how far you can move your lower leg in different directions. Push on or pull the joint to evaluate the integrity of the structures in your knee.
What is the procedure to remove fluid from the knee?
Lab tests. If your doctor suspects an infection or inflammation, you're likely to have blood tests and sometimes a procedure called arthrocentesis, in which a small amount of fluid is removed from within your knee joint with a needle and sent to a laboratory for analysis.
What is the purpose of MRI on knee?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses radio waves and a powerful magnet to create 3D images of the inside of your knee. This test is particularly useful in revealing injuries to soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscles.
How to prevent knee fractures?
Kneecap fracture exercises strengthen your leg muscles and improve your range of motion. Choose non-weight-bearing and low-impact exercises to prevent further injury to your knee. Always consult your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, and stop if you feel any pain.
What is the most common form of knee fracture?
Fractured knees often result from trauma. The most common form of knee fracture is a patellar fracture. According to several studies, patellar and fractured tibia knee each account for about 1% of all fractures. A patellar fracture is common in active, older people. If you think you’re suffering from a broken kneecap, ...
What causes a fractured kneecap?
Common causes of kneecap fractures include: Direct Trauma: A fractured kneecap commonly results from a fall directly onto the knee, often during a car accident or while playing sports. A fractured knee caused by direct trauma usually results in serious damage to the overlying skin.
How to tell if you have a fractured knee?
The signs of a fractured knee typically occur around the joint, but you may experience fractured knee symptoms in the thigh area, as well. Immediate, intense pain with weight-bearing activities. Bruising and swelling around the front of the knee. Trouble doing a straight-leg raise or extending the leg.
Why do you need a knee brace?
A fractured knee brace is crucial to supporting your injured joint and preventing further damage. ( See Product ) If the fractured knee is not out of place, your doctor may recommend wearing a brace until the bone heals.
How long does it take to return to work after knee surgery?
Using a knee brace is the best way to reduce the impact of this joint weakness on your life. If your job involves mostly sitting, you may be able to return to work a week after your injury. If your job involves climbing or extended walking, on the other hand, you may be able to return to work in about 12 weeks.
What is the cartilage on the patella?
The undersides of the patella and the ends of the femur are covered with a smooth substance known as articular cartilage , which helps the bones glide easily against each other as you move your legs. A fractured kneecap is a crack or break in the kneecap (patella). The injury may be a slight crack in the bone.
How long should you keep your leg immobile after a knee fracture?
But should the knee fracture be serious, you would need to keep your leg immobile for anything from 6 to 8 weeks and not bear any weight on an affected leg. Surgical intervention.
What are the complications of a fractured knee?
There are some complications associated with a fractured knee and you may find that even if you are successfully treated for your injury, you could develop some long-term problems which includes the following complications: Arthritis. Muscle Weakness. Chronic Pain.
What is a patella fracture?
A fracture to your knee is also referred to as a patella fracture and when you suffer this type of injury, it can be debilitating making every day tasks an impossibility. It’s the type of injury that can occur when playing sports, being involved in a road traffic accident or through trauma to your knee. To find out more about the knee fracture ...
What are the long term effects of a fractured knee?
The long-term effects and prognosis associated with a fractured knee depend on several things which includes the complexity and severity of an injury. Other factors include the following: If you had to undergo knee fracture surgery to correct the problem. The time you need for rehabilitation.
How long does it take for a broken knee to heal?
A simple knee fracture can take anything from 6 to 8 weeks to heal but a more serious break can take a lot longer more especially if you had to undergo knee surgery to put things right. An incorrect diagnosis and treatment can also negatively impact a fractured knee recovery time.
How to tell if a fracture is a displaced fracture?
A doctor can often tell if the injury involves a displaced knee fracture just by feeling the area that has been negatively impacted. If there is a lot of painful swelling around your knee, a doctor would establish whether blood has collected in the space in your knee joint which is a condition known as hemarthrosis.
How long does it take to recover from a broken knee?
With this said, the majority of people who suffer a simple fractured knee injury make a recovery in anything from 3 to 6 months and are able to carry out normal daily activities. If you suffered a more serious knee injury, your recovery could take much longer.
What You Need to Know
Patella (kneecap) fractures (broken kneecap) are common injuries. About 1% of all broken bones are broken kneecaps.
What is a kneecap fracture?
A kneecap (patella) fracture is a break of the bone located on the front of the knee joint. The patella is a sesamoid bone: a round bone embedded in a tendon that shields and protects a joint. In the case of the patella, ligaments attach it to both the thigh muscles (quadriceps) and the shinbone (tibia).
Types of Kneecap Fractures
The type of patella fracture depends on the mechanism and severity of the injury. It can be affected by your weight and general health.
What causes kneecap fractures?
Patella fractures are injuries often associated with a blow to the knee. Common causes include:
Kneecap Fracture Diagnosis
Your doctor may use some of the following techniques to determine if you have fractured your patella:
Treatment for a Fractured Kneecap
Treatment for patella fracture varies depending on how severe the break is, as well as your age, health and other factors.
Recovery and Complications After a Patella Fracture
The knee is a complex joint that bears weight. Even after treatment, you may experience continued pain and reduced range of motion. Post-traumatic arthritis (thinning of cartilage due to trauma) of the knee is a common complication of patella fractures and other knee injuries.
What is a knee fracture?
A knee fracture is a break or rupture in a bone in the knee joint. These bones are usually injured by falls, traffic accidents, contact sports and physical exercise.
Prognosis
Depending on the severity of the fracture, some knee fractures can heal without the need for surgery, and conservative measures will suffice. However, bigger fractures will need surgery and a more lengthy recovery period with attention needed to physical therapy.
Medical tests for knee fractures
Firstly, a detailed physical examination will take place. Next, the following will be carried out to determine the severity and location of the fracture:
What causes a knee fracture?
The causes of knee fractures can be very varied. As mentioned above, many result from sports and physical activities. They can also occur following a fall or accident. Osteoporosis can also increase the risk of knee fractures.
Can knee fractures be prevented?
A knee fracture is difficult to prevent, unless certain sports or physical activities are avoided entirely.
Treatments for knee fracture
Treatment of a knee fracture depends on the fractured bone and the type of fracture. If the parts of the bones are well aligned, a brace or cast on the knee may be enough. If the kneecap is affected, surgery may be necessary. Therefore, recovery from the injury depends on the fractured bone, the type of fracture, the treatment, and its progression.
Home Remedies
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Therapies
- The inflammation associated with most knee injuries can lead to pain and swelling, making it very uncomfortable to go about your day. With this in mind, several over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help to ease the discomfort in your leg and improve some of your symptoms.
Prescriptions
- Some patients are unable to take OTC pain medication due to other health concerns or because their pain is too intense. In these circumstances, certain prescription medications may be utilized for short-term symptom control.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- In some situations, complementary or alternative treatments may provide some relief after a knee injury. These are typically not primary treatments, however they may be considered in certain circumstances.
A Word from Verywell
- Traumatic knee injuries can be extremely painful and may significantly impact your ability to go about your day. Because of this, it is crucial to have them assessed by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Following a thorough evaluation, your healthcare provider will be able to recommend the interventions that are right for your specific condition. While your recovery may …
Diagnosis
- During the physical exam, your doctor is likely to: 1. Inspect your knee for swelling, pain, tenderness, warmth and visible bruising 2. Check to see how far you can move your lower leg in different directions 3. Push on or pull the joint to evaluate the integrity of the structures in your knee
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot. Self-care measures for an injured knee include: 1...
Alternative Medicine
- Research suggests that acupuncture may help relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Acupuncture involves the placement of hair-thin needles into your skin at specific places on your body.
Preparing For Your Appointment
- You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. Depending on the cause of your problem, he or she may refer you to a doctor specializing in joint diseases (rheumatologist), joint surgery (orthopedic surgeon) or sports medicine.