8 Most Common Knee Injuries from Falling

Knee damage from falling is triggered by a sudden fall that signals injuries as severe as a bruise that can be easily treated at home, to as severe as a torn ligament or fracture that mostly require surgery and repair.

By paying close and keen attention to the severity and location of the knee pain that you are experiencing, you can determine the type of injury that you have sustained and whether medical attention is specifically necessary. 

Do keep in mind that knee pain associated with difficulty standing or walking is always considered a medical emergency. This blog will discuss knee injuries that commonly occur immediately after a fall, focusing on how to distinguish between minor injuries that can be treated at home and more severe ones that typically require medical attention.

What are the possible knee injuries that can occur after a fall?

The eight most common knee injuries, ranging from minor to severe, can eventually happen after a sudden fall.

 

Abrasion

Abrasion is another common term for a scrape. It occurs eventually when the skin rubs against a rough surface, like asphalt and cement.

A minor abrasion takes off just at the outer layer of the skin and can be immediately treated at home. Severe abrasions involve bleeding, and more layers of skin might require serious medical attention from the doctors of Injury Rely.

 

Laceration

A laceration is a cut or puncture wound that generally causes a tear or a hole in your skin. If you suddenly fall and land on something sharp, like a nail, you can somehow end up with a laceration. Lacerations are minor with little to no bleeding or very deep and require medical attention.

Lacerations are mainly caused by rusty objects, like nails, and might put you at risk for tetanus. Definitely seek immediate medical attention if this occurs immediately.

 

Contusion

Knee contusions and bruises are common injury that occurs if you suddenly fall on a hard surface. It is the sudden impact that can immediately cause a blood vessel or capillary in the skin or muscle underneath to leak blood into the surrounding area, creating the black and blue sign of a bruise.

A bruised knee is usually treated at home with rest, ice, elevation, and an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen as needed.

 

Sprain

A knee sprain occurs when the ligament of your knee is overstretched. A ligament is a structure that connects one bone to another. If you fall hard or your knee is struck by something heavy and powerful, think of a football tackle, which might cause you to experience a knee sprain.

Somehow, if the sprain appears to be minor by nature, you can rest at home and treat yourself efficiently. Do see your doctor if:

• There exists significant swelling
• Presence of severe pain
• You also face lots of difficulty in moving your knee

 

Torn meniscus

The torn meniscus is a rubbery piece of cartilage that exists between the femur and tibia. It aids in cushioning and supporting the two bones.

A meniscus tear usually occurs when you make a sharp turn in sports like football and basketball, but a hard fall can immediately cause one. Most of the meniscus tears are treated conservatively. Furthermore, persistent pain and swelling might be signs that require an operation to treat your torn meniscus.
 

Tendon tear

There exist two main tendons within the knee. 

 

Quadriceps Tendon

It is the quadriceps tendon that connects the quadriceps muscle in the front of the thigh to the top of the patella(knee cap). 

 

Patellar tendon

Generally, the patellar tendon connects the bottom of the patella to the tibia(shinbone). Patellar tendon tears are common, and both injuries can mainly result from a fall on the front of your knee or from missing a step and landing awkwardly.

 

Torn ligament

In general, the knee contains four main ligaments that mainly connect the tibia to the femur(thighbone) and enable the knee to move forward, backward, and rotate side to side.

• Anterior Cruciate Ligament 
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament
• Medial Collateral Ligament
• Later Collateral Ligament

At times, a high-impact injury results typically either from a fall or a blow to the side of the knee, and it can cause one or more of these ligaments to tear.

Surgery is necessary to repair the torn ligament. Without even proper care, a torn ligament can lead to chronic pain and disability of the injured knee.

 

Knee dislocation

A dislocated knee occurs frequently, but it’s a severe injury and requires emergent medical attention.

Knee dislocations usually occur following high-energy injuries such as car accidents or falls from significant heights. But low-energy injuries can also cause a dislocated knee by pushing the thighbone out of alignment with the shinbone.

Complications such as blood vessel and nerve damage are not uncommon following a dislocated knee and require immediate medical attention.

When should I see a doctor?

At times, doctors from Injury Rely believe that a knee scrape and bruise can be really painful by nature. This kind of injury never requires medical attention unless there is bleeding that cannot be successfully controlled.

Some of the symptoms that indicate the need for prompt medical attention include

• A feeling that the knee is unstable, buckles, or gives way is mainly associated with a torn ligament.
• Furthermore, you may hear or feel a popping sound as you fall. It is often associated with a torn ligament.
• However, swelling of the knee does indicate a torn ligament and fracture as well.
• If your knee suddenly feels warm upon touch. There is a possible indication of infection, bursitis, and inflammation resulting from an injury to a tendon and a muscle.
• Continuous bleeding from a cut or scrape. If you notice that bleeding persists after several minutes, you should always seek immediate medical attention. 

How is a Knee Injury Diagnosed?

Knee damage from falling is a symptom that is common to most knee injuries and chronic knee conditions.

Therefore, to diagnose the cause of knee pain after a subtle fall, your doctor will start by reviewing your medical history to determine if an underlying condition, such as an unstable knee joint, was the leading cause of this fall.

However, the doctor will also perform a physical examination of your knee.

Furthermore, you will be immediately asked to bend and straighten your leg as the doctor feels for any kind of dislocation of the kneecap and other signs of an injury to the bones, ligaments, and tendons in the knee.

• Imaging is inherently necessary. 
• It is an X-ray that can reveal damage to the bones of the knee.
• Through magnetic resonance imaging, you can reveal the damage to the bones, cartilage, and soft tissue.

What can I expect after a knee injury?

The recovery time will entirely depend on the severity of the injury and whether you require surgery or not. A sprained knee, for instance, might heal completely within a time frame of 2 to 4 weeks. However, complete recovery following surgery for a torn ligament requires a recovery time of 6 to 12 months.

Concluding Thought

Therefore, the cause of knee pain after an immediate fall may be a surface injury, such as a scrape or a cut. It may also be a more significant injury involving bones, ligaments, or tendons.

Apart from pain, symptoms like significant swelling, a feeling of buckling or giving way, and an inability to put your weight on the injured knee should prompt you to seek medical attention.

Minor knee injuries are mostly treated with absolute rest and a knee brace. At the same time, tears of a ligament and a tendon do require surgery. Following through with physical therapy, if prescribed, after a knee injury is critical to ensure a full recovery. Doing so will definitely minimize your pain, even maximize the recovery, and restore the strength and range of motion of your knee.