Knee contusion

A knee contusion is considered a common and minor injury, but such damage can lead to quite serious consequences.

The frequency of knee joint damage among all injuries is almost 70%. With such a misfortune, victims are in no hurry to see a doctor, so subsequently, the treatment of undiagnosed injuries is extremely problematic. A damaged joint due to such an injury as a knee contusion can lead to a long period of loss of movement and ability to work.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the knee is one of the most vulnerable places, considering that the knee joint is the largest in the musculoskeletal system. The patella, femur, and tibia actively participate in the movement and mechanics of this formation. The knee is covered with a network of ligaments, and its movement is provided by synovial fluid. The functions of the knee joint largely depend not so much on the condition of the ligaments as on the menisci - intra-articular cartilage.

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What causes a bruised knee?

The most common injuries resulting from a bruise are ligament ruptures, especially with sharp turns of the body and fixed feet. Of course, these are primarily sports injuries associated with gymnastics, speed skating and figure skating, football and skiing. In addition, a knee bruise is a common household injury associated either with haste, or with inattention or failure to comply with basic safety rules. Children are a separate category in the risk group, whose injuries are inevitable due to age-related activity.

Any knee contusion is an injury to both the skin and soft tissues, and nearby bones are also subject to contusion. In case of contusion, diagnostics are carried out by excluding more dangerous injuries. A contusion is a blow of medium force to the lateral or anterior surface of the joint. It is very important to determine the cause of the contusion, how exactly it occurred, its mechanism. Thus, with an unsuccessful landing from a height, a sharp rotation of the hip is possible, which means a contusion of the knee and a rupture of the ligaments are possible.

How does a knee contusion manifest itself?

• Painful sensations at rest and during movement;
• The joint is enlarged, the contours exceed the usual boundaries;
• Visible bruising under the skin;
• patella natans – accumulation of fluid in the cavity, ballottement of the patella (the leg is straightened, when pressure is applied to the patella, it sinks into the cavity);
• Hemarthrosis is bleeding, hemorrhage into a cavity, often extensive;
• Severe swelling, accompanied by pain and an increase in general body temperature.

A knee contusion can have serious consequences, namely ligament ruptures, and hemarthrosis also requires separate treatment.

How is hemarthrosis treated?

A knee contusion with subsequent hemorrhage requires the help of a surgeon. As a rule, hemarthrosis is extensive and involves a puncture of the knee joint to remove excess fluid and accelerate the resorption of the hematoma. A week later, physiotherapy procedures, therapeutic exercises and massage are prescribed. Fixation with an elastic bandage is possible. The course of therapeutic measures lasts about a month.

How is meniscus damage diagnosed and treated?

This injury is extremely difficult to diagnose due to the fact that the clinical picture is “covered” by hemarthrosis. A meniscus rupture is a typical injury for athletes, when the ligaments are either crushed between the bones or parts of it are torn off. A knee block can serve as a diagnostic sign of a rupture - the leg does not straighten completely. If the victim does not receive medical care in time, hoping that the swelling will resolve, then knee blockades recur and deforming arthrosis develops. As a consequence - possible removal of the meniscus by surgery, which can also be ineffective due to the patient's late appeal to the doctor. Anamnesis is important for diagnosis, since it is almost impossible to determine a rupture during the period of spontaneous remission between blockades. Treatment consists of anesthesia, reduction of damaged structures, immobilization for 2-3 weeks and a subsequent rehabilitation period, including a therapeutic course of special gymnastics.

A knee contusion can lead to a ligament rupture. The cause may be car accidents, jumping from a height, falling. Knee ligaments generally do not stretch well due to low elasticity, so in addition to ruptures, there may also be sprains or partial ruptures. If the rupture is complete, the leg loses stability, as if losing its place. There is no hemarthrosis, but there is swelling and puffiness. A bruise appears after a few days. A complete rupture requires surgical intervention. In case of an incomplete rupture or sprain, immobilization for 3-4 weeks with a plaster cast is indicated.

What to do if you have a bruised knee?

In case of persistent severe pain, swelling of the joint, an X-ray examination is mandatory. In any case, a severe knee contusion should be accompanied by immobilization, depending on the severity, either a tight bandage or a plaster cast. Physical activity is allowed after two weeks if the condition improves and the pain decreases.

Knee contusion is an injury that is well studied and treated quite well. After all the therapeutic measures have been taken, a set of special exercises must be performed to consolidate the result. One of the most effective techniques that can be used during the immobilization period is the following: you need to lift your leg 150-200 times daily, both in a cast and without it during the rehabilitation period. The pace can be any, but it is better to do this exercise slowly, possibly with an additional load (1-2 kilograms). The need for such multiple repetitions of the leg movement is associated with the rapid atrophy of the quadriceps muscle. This important extensor muscle literally begins to "be lazy" and dry out in a few days. To increase its mobility and tone, multiple repetitions of lifting the injured leg are required.