Understanding Knee Injuries Sustained in Auto Accidents

After a car accident, the knees might suffer any of the following injuries:

• Knee Fracture: Any bone fracture is a very significant injury but they are also very widely understood. They generally arise after an intense exertion or force is put upon it, like a car crash. These fractures are normally accompanied with bone deformities and discoloring, but a persona might also notice the knee sticking out of the skin itself! Normally, doctors will simply place the affected knee in a cast but they might recommend surgery if it cannot heal on its own. Also, in some instances, knee fractures might pose long-term issues such as arthritis.
• Knee Dislocation: Generally, bone dislocations occur when they are not in the places where they should be. For knee dislocations, this means that the leg bones (called the tibia/fibula) are not in their proper positions relative to the thigh bone (called the femur). Absent a very strong force (such as a direct hit to the dashboard in a car accident), these are relatively rare; however, if untreated they can cause very serious problems and might even result in amputation if an arterial blockage cuts off the blood supply to the leg for too long.
• Knee Sprain/Strain: These occur in a car accident if a person stretches, tears, or damages the ligaments, tendons, muscles, or joint capsule surrounding the knee. They are very common in automobile incidents and are assigned Grades from I to III based upon the seriousness of the sprain or strain. Grade I represents minimal pain; Grade II represents mild pain; Grade III represents serious pain.
• Torn Cartilage: A person involved in a car accident, might also experience torn cartilage around the knee. There are pads around it that act as shock absorbers and trauma to that area might create a tear in their connective structure. They are commonly found when a someone sprains or strains their knee. While time and rest ordinarily heal these up, a surgery may be required in certain instances to correct the tear.
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury: Following an automobile accident, injured person may find that the ACL has been torn or damaged. This is the ligament that runs across the knee to give it stabilization and strength. Any damage to it is serious and requires immediate medical attention. Following an ACL injury, walking or exerting any strength on that leg at all may be very difficult or even impossible. Surgery to correct ACL tears or sprains is not uncommon and ongoing medical treatment is vital.
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury: While running across the ACL, the PCL is actually considered to be a much stronger ligament. It provides support and acts as a brake against certain kinds of movements. However, due to its strength, it requires great shock or trauma to seriously injure or tear it, and, therefore, normally does not present a problem until after significant pressure has been applied for an extended period of time.
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury: While very common injuries in sports, MCL problems also arise frequently in car accidents. In fact, they are the most commonly affected knee ligaments. If suffered a MCL tear or sprain, experiencing a tingling sensation running along the inside part of the knee is common. These might require surgery and extended medical care as well.