The Basics
The knee joint consists of the femur, tibia, and patella. A knee fracture is damage to these bones and joints that are usually caused by during falls, sports injuries, and direct trauma injuries on the knees. Common types of knee fractures are patellar, tibial plateau, or distal femur fractures. Dislocations are common during sports that require sudden movements or twisting and common types are patellar dislocations and true knee dislocations.
Signs and symptoms
Common symptoms are extreme pain in the knee, swelling, bruising of the joint, a limited ROM, instability, and the inability to bear weight. These symptoms appear after the injury and may increase with movement or pressure.
Treatment
Closed treatments of fractures and dislocations include increased rest, applying ice and elevation to reduce swelling, pain medication, and physical therapy. If these treatments do not provide relief, operative treatments are recommended. Common procedures are ligament reconstruction, MPFL reconstruction, and ORIF.