The immediate impact can fracture or dislocate your knee cap, twist and tear your ligaments and cartilage, and cause other significant injuries in a car collision. Knee injuries are not only painful, but they can also result in substantial physical limitations that can have a negative impact on your quality of life.
Common Types of Knee Injuries
Car accident victims frequently sustain knee injuries due to a sudden external force exerted to the knee. Here is a look at some of the most common types of knee injuries sustained by car accident victims.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury
When you fall from a height and land on your knees, you have sustained a knee injury. It is possible to hear a loud popping sound. Depending on the severity of the damage, the doctor may prescribe that you undergo surgery right away.
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury
This sort of injury, commonly referred to as dashboard knee, happens when the driver or a passenger collides with a vehicle’s dashboard while driving. Pain and swelling are two of the most common symptoms. The damage occurs in the ligament that connects the tibia (shinbone) to the femur (thighbone).
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury
An MCL injury, like a PCL injury, happens when the knee collides with a solid item within the vehicle. The medial collateral functions as a connection between the two bones.
Meniscus injury
This sort of injury causes damage to the discs in the knees, which are responsible for preventing friction between the knee bones. Walking on these discs provides cushioning and stability to the knee when you are on your feet. Swelling, acute pain, instability, and locking of the knee are all common indications of this injury, as is locking of the knee.
Knee Injury Symptoms
Following a car accident, keep a watchful eye out for the following symptoms in your knees:
Discoloration
Underlying injury can create color changes in the affected area. It is possible to find a reddish region, or if the area develops infected, it may begin to seem yellow or green. If the knee or bones appear to be abnormal, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Temperature variation
Similar to how it responds to other types of wounds, your body will respond to an injured knee by attempting to mend it. This response may cause the area to feel warmer than usual. On the other hand, a vehicle accident can cause blood circulation to be hindered; you may have a cold sensation.
Reduced strength
When your knee is hurt, it is common for the injury to weaken the joint.
Limited range of motion
You may not be able to move in the same way you were before the accident. This is a significant indication that your knee has been hurt.
Pain
Following a car accident, it’s likely that you’ll discover that your knee hurts when you move it or when you touch it.
Why Are Knee Injuries Complicated?
Despite the fact that most individuals are aware of how vital their knees are in supporting the body’s weight and mobility, many people are unaware that the knee joint is one of the body’s largest and most complicated joints. In part because of the complexity of this joint, it is particularly prone to a wide range of injuries, including tears in the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and kneecap fractures or dislocations.
Car accident victims regularly report knee injuries. Knee injury is frequently caused by a collision with the dashboard, steering wheel, or other hard surfaces in the vehicle’s interior. In a crash, the kneecap may become dislocated or broken, or the knee may be twisted or bent suddenly and awkwardly, resulting in tears or other injuries.
For the same reason, that knee injuries are not always identified right away after a vehicle accident. Knee injuries are not always discovered right away after a car accident. It is critical to seek treatment for a knee injury as soon as possible because untreated concerns could result in long-term pain and mobility issues.
When Should I See a Doctor After a Car Accident?
Accident victims frequently neglect to seek quick medical attention after being involved in an accident. They believe that their injuries are too slight to warrant medical attention, they want to consult with an attorney first, or they are terrified of their insurance companies.
Skipping medical treatment is a severe mistake regardless of the rationale for doing so.
Indeed, some injuries do not manifest themselves for several hours, days, or even weeks after an accident occurs. Receiving medical attention is the most effective technique to ensure that an unnoticed injury lurks in the background.
It is also essential for accident victims to have any injuries they may have, no matter how slight, documented by a doctor to have such injuries recorded by a specialist. This helps to ensure that the victim does not unintentionally surrender their right to compensation from the insurance company.
Doctors are frequently called upon to testify as expert witnesses on behalf of their patients in circumstances where the victim attempts to recover compensation from the insurance company or another driver. If you choose not to seek medical treatment, you may be deprived of access to vital paperwork regarding your soft tissue damage.
Knee Injuries from Car Accident and Treatment
The first thing your doctor would do is to assist you in determining when you should get an MRI examination. Depending on the severity of your injury, your doctor may recommend knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Once they have determined the extent of your knee damage, they will proceed to identify the best course of action for you.
Minor knee injury
In the case of a minor knee injury sustained in a car accident, your doctor would most likely recommend the RICE therapy, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). As a result, you can relieve pressure on the knee while also icing it to help reduce swelling, using some compression such as a splint to assist offer structure and support, and elevating the area to allow for better blood circulation.
In most cases, a mild knee injury sustained in an automobile accident can be healed in 6 to 8 weeks, especially with rest and therapy after the event.
Mild knee injury
Some more mild knee injuries sustained in a car accident will necessitate the use of a splint or cast to provide additional support, while crutches or a wheelchair can be used to assist you in taking the weight off the knee while it heals. If you have a severe knee injury, you may require surgery.
More severe knee injury
Orthopedic injuries such as severe knee injuries ensure that the injury is appropriately addressed. Knee injuries ranging from moderate to severe might take up to a year to heal completely.
It is critical to get treatment for a knee injury sustained in a car accident with a highly experienced and qualified orthopedic doctor as soon as possible, regardless of the severity of your injury. Following through with the recommended treatment, stretches, exercises, and rehabilitation will assist you in achieving the best possible outcome.
With the help of Stridewell’s multi-specialty team of orthopedic surgeons and specialists, we can assist you in getting back on the road to recovery by creating an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Lifestyle Changes Caused By Knee Injuries
Suppose you are involved in a car accident, and your knee is hurt. In that case, you may experience short- or long-term discomfort and difficulties that make it challenging to move around and participate in your usual activities. Your ability to walk, run, climb, exercise, or participate in sports may be restricted, either temporarily or permanently.
Because many severe injuries can cause the knee joint to degenerate, these challenges may become more challenging to manage as time goes on. In addition, certain types of injuries, such as dislocations and ligament rips, may put you at risk for further knee problems in the future.
When your day-to-day activities are disrupted by pain and movement limitations, you may also encounter financial and emotional troubles.
You may be saddled with extensive medical and rehabilitation therapy expenditures. As a result of your inability to satisfy the physical demands of your employment, you may experience wage loss or be forced to accept a low-paid position. You may also be unable to enjoy activities such as playing in the backyard with your children or participating in sports that you enjoy.
Call Stridewell to help you take care of your knee injury from a car accident.
For concerns regarding a knee injury from a car accident, call a trusted auto injury clinic. You can be confident that the professional team at Stridewell will offer you a general evaluation by utilizing the most up-to-date imaging equipment in conjunction with their considerable knowledge to create a customized treatment plan for your needs
Related: What Are the Most Common Knee Injuries and Shoulder Injuries After a Car Accident?
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