Knee Injury

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) runs diagonally down the front of the knee. It offers stability to the joint. Injuries can range from sprains to complete tears, which may make walking impossible and will typically require surgical care and months of rehabilitation.

Any accident that causes you to land wrong or forces you to quickly change the direction of motion can lead to ACL injuries. These wounds also have a tendency to arise from direct and forceful contact.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries occur when the knee suffers a blow. The PCL is a connective tissue that forms an “X” within the knee joint. If your knee hits the dashboard during an accident, for example, the knee can push into the shinbone, resulting in a PCL tear.

Although PCL injuries don’t typically require surgery, you could need to use a brace or crutches for weeks. The pain and swelling could be substantial, too.

Meniscal Tears

Between your thighbone and shinbone, there are two rubbery wedges of cartilage called the menisci. A forceful twist or rotation of the knee in an accident of any kind can cause meniscal tears. You may hear and even feel a pop in your knee, leading to the development of pain, inflammation, and mobility issues.

Fractures

Your knees contain a lot of bones, and any of these can be fractured in an accident. The bone that most commonly breaks in the knee is the patella. Motorcycle accidents and other traffic collisions, as well as falls and struck-by accidents, can all result in fractures.

Dislocations

Dislocations occur when the bones in the knee slip out of place, whether partially or completely. Trauma to the knee can cause these injuries. Although they can be easily treated, they also have the potential to cause significant pain and make you more likely to suffer another dislocation in the future.