Acute Knee Injuries:
Knee Sprain aka ligament sprains
A knee sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligaments that hold the knee bone in place. A Knee sprain occurs when there is a direct blow to either the front, side or back of the knee, twisting or torsion, hyperextension or hyperflexion injury, or if someone has weak thigh muscles making them more prone to sprains. The signs of a knee sprain are possibly swelling and discoloration, the injured person may not be able to straighten the leg, and they may not be able to walk without limping.
When any knee injury occurs use the p.r.i.c.e protocol to help quicken the healing process. The price protocol is;
Protection, Rest, Ice, compression, elevation.
A good knee support or brace should help stop any further knee sprains from happening in the future.
Cartilage Tear
This is a tear of the cartilage on the lower leg bone. This is the result of a direct blow to the knee, twisting or torsion injury to the knee, especially while the knee is bent. The symptoms of this injury can be pain at the site of the injury and along the joint line between the upper and lower leg bones. The signs to look for are again the inability to bend or straighten the leg, there will possibly be delayed swelling if it is a cartilage injury alone, or immediate swelling if it is a cartilage injury and ligament sprain.
Reference: http://hubpages.com/hub/Different-Types-Of-Knee-Injuries
Ligaments
Ligaments in the knee are often injured playing sports. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are the two most commonly injured ligaments in the knee. ACL injuries occur when the knee is twisted one way while the bottom of the leg stays in place. PCL injuries occur when there is a direct blow to the knee. These types of knee injuries can stretch or tear the ligament. Symptoms of an ACL or PCL injury include pain, swelling and a popping sound from the knee. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need a leg brace and crutches or surgery to repair or reconstruct the ligament.
A Cruciate L injury
Changing direction rapidly, slowing down when running, and landing from a jump may cause tears in the ACL. Athletes who participate in skiing and basketball, and athletes who wear cleats, such as football players, are susceptible to ACL injuries.
M Collateral L injury
Injuries to the MCL are usually caused by a direct blow to the outside of the knee. These types of injuries often occur in contact sports, such as football or soccer.
P Cruciate L injury
The PCL is often injured when an athlete receives a blow to the front of the knee or makes a simple misstep on the playing field.
Ligaments are the strong, fibrous bands that connect bone to bone to help control the direction and degree of movement in a joint. There are four ligaments that stabilize the knee joint. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, restrains the forward motion of the shin( at right angle), limits posterior rolling (turning and travelling) of femoral condyles on tibial plateau during flexion, converting it to spin ( turning in place). The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, prevents the shin bone from sliding too far backward. The medial collateral ligament, or MCL, runs along the inside of the knee joint, while the lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, runs along the outside of the knee; these two ligaments prevent side-to-side sliding of the thigh over the shin bone.
There are four degrees of sprains. The first degree involves only the overstretching of the ligament that may or may not result in a minor tear. The second-degree sprain is a tear in the ligament that is severe, but does not completely tear the ligament into two parts. The third-degree sprain is when the ligament is completely ruptured. The fourth sprain breaks the ligament and damages the bone the ligament was attached to.
The most common type of knee sprain is called an ACL injury. The injury occurs when the knee is forced backward, either in one major incident or with repetitive movements that wear down the ligament over time. When the ACL is sprained, it causes the knee the give out and allows the knee joint to slide. The instability makes pivoting motions difficult. Any athlete that needs to be able to make sudden turns needs a functioning ACL. Women tend to be eight times more likely to sustain an ACL injury than men. Rehabilitation and often surgery is needed to repair ACL sprains.
PCL sprains are less common and often go undiagnosed. These injuries occur when the knee is forced to flex beyond its normal range of motion. Falling onto the knees can cause the PCL injury. Like the ACL sprain, a PCL causes the knee joint to become unstable. PCL sprains are usually treated with rehabilitation. Surgery is only considered if other structures of the knee have been damaged as well.
MCL sprains occur when something impacts the outside of the knee, causing the knee to angle medially. This is frequently seen in football when an athlete gets clipped in the knee. Usually if the MCL is sprained, one or more of the other ligaments are damaged as well. Surgery is almost never done for an MCL sprain, but rehabilitation is extensive and can take as long as four months.
Meniscus
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that cushions and stabilizes the knee joint. A violent twisting of the knee can tear the cartilage. The knee may lock up if a piece of the cartilage comes loose and is caught in the knee joint. There is usually a feeling of something popping in the knee when this knee injury occurs. Pain and swelling may not set in until hours after the injury. Mild to moderate tears typically heal with rest and wrapping the knee with an elastic bandage. Surgery will be required if large pieces of cartilage have torn loose.
Torn cartilage
When people talk about torn knee cartilage, they are usually referring to a torn meniscus. The mensicus is a tough, rubbery cartilage that is attached to the knee's ligaments. The meniscus acts like a shock absorber. In athletic activities, tears in the meniscus can occur when twisting, cutting, pivoting, decelerating, or being tackled. Direct contact is often involved.
Joint locking, or the inability to completely straighten the joint. This is due to a piece of the torn cartilage physically impinging the joint mechanism of the knee.
Fracture
Fractures of the kneecap commonly occur when there is direct trauma to the knee such as a fall or a car accident or slamming the knee into something. A leg brace or a cast and crutches are the treatment for simple breaks. A fracture of the kneecap that pulls the bone apart will need surgery to hold the bone together to heal properly.
Reference: http://www.ehow.com/about_5380718_types-knee-injuries.html
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