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A knee fracture is a fairly complex injury, because four bones are involved in the formation of this joint. Due to the vulnerability of this area, the knee joint breaks in 10% of the total number of fractures. Moreover, men and women are equally susceptible to this injury. The age category also varies: from 20 years or more.
Symptoms of a knee fracture
General signs for all injuries of the knee joint should be considered:
identification of acute painful sensations that increase in the process of feeling the joint, as well as when attempting any, even the most insignificant movement in the knee area;
systematic formation of swelling in the knee joint;
taking into account the main role of trauma in the occurrence of a fracture and its location, bruising begins to appear;
there is a violation of the functioning of the joint, in connection with this, the victim cannot carry out any movements with the injured limb, and also cannot step on the sore leg.
Causes of a knee fracture
The main factors in the occurrence of a fracture of the knee joint are force or significant pressure on it. The most common fracture of the patella (patella) occurs in the process of falling on the knee, which was in a bent position.
More rare are cases of fracture with a direct blow to the patella, and in some situations, a fracture can occur without force. Sometimes the injury is caused by too much traction on the tendon, which destroys the patella and surrounding muscles. With this option, in 90% of cases there is a complete detachment of the lower region of the patella, in the remaining 10% – partial.
Types of knee fractures
Fractures in the knee joint are divided into the following categories:
femur injury;
tibia injury;
trauma to the tibia;
patella injury;
meniscus injury.
In accordance with the division into types, it is customary to distinguish between such knee fractures as extra- and intra-articular. In the latter case, there is a rupture of the synovial bag, which covers the outer part of the joint, and in the first case, only the bone is damaged, without affecting the articular part.
Diagnostics
An accurate diagnosis of a fracture of any bone or joint can only be made using an X-ray examination. It is with the help of x-rays that it is possible to correctly determine the line of fracture, as well as the probable displacement of parts of the knee joint relative to each other.
A fracture in the area of the cartilage of the knee joint is characterized by a less vivid clinical picture. For this injury, it is characteristic that the painful sensations begin to intensify with the implementation of movements. At rest, pain syndrome is not observed. X-ray, in the vast majority of cases, does not reveal even the most minor deviations.
Arthroscopy plays a significant role in the diagnosis of knee injuries. This procedure involves visualization of the joint area using endoscopic equipment. This method makes it possible to consider a crack in the cartilage tissue, which is the main reason for the violation of the optimal functioning of the muscles of the knee joint. Symptoms similar to the described clinical manifestations are also characteristic of a meniscus fracture, which is determined during arthroscopy.
Treatment of a knee fracture
The treatment process should begin immediately after the diagnosis has been made. At the same time, at any stage of therapy, the volume and characteristics of the process may be different, depending on the necessary actions.
For example, first aid involves keeping the joint immobile by any means available. The purpose of maintaining immobility is to prevent further injury to the joint. In addition, at this stage, it is desirable to administer analgesics that prevent pain shock. After immobilization and anesthesia, all actions of the first stage of treatment can be considered completed.
The next step in the treatment is carried out with the support of a traumatologist. This stage implies the need to compare the bone fragments in an anatomically correct order, as well as their fixation in the optimal position. This will help create the most favorable conditions for the healing process.
The described comparison can be carried out:
by a closed method, that is, without surgical intervention using manual techniques;
open – in this case, the surgical effect is carried out with further fixation of the bone tissue using special devices.
As a rule, after a knee fracture, it is necessary to apply an elastic bandage, which ensures the immobility of the joint. If the articular cartilage has been damaged, at the second stage of treatment it is necessary to use chondroprotectors – drugs that help restore the structure of the cartilage tissue.
In some situations, it is necessary to use anti-inflammatory drugs. For example, a fracture in the area of the condyle of the knee joint, the treatment of which is very often accompanied by the use of such drugs, is complicated by autoimmune processes in 70% of cases. To suppress them, anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Rehabilitation
In the process of treating a fracture of the knee joint, the final stage is rehabilitation, which makes it possible to make the motor skills of the knee again full-fledged. Recovery activities include frequent massage, exercise therapy, and physiotherapy.
All these measures must be prescribed directly by a specialist. Only in this case, you can count on 100% and the fastest possible recovery after such a complex injury as a fracture of the knee joint.