Common Knee Injuries
As Missouri car accident attorneys know, knee injuries are common in car accidents. The force of a collision can injure the knee by slamming it into the steering column, dash, or door of the vehicle or twisting the knee. A Missouri car accident can cause several different injuries and treatment can vary depending on which part of the knee is injured.
Symptoms of a Knee Injury
The signs and symptoms of a knee injury are dependent on the severity of the injury. A knee injury caused by a Missouri car accident can be very mild or serious, which depends on the type of collision, the speed at time of impact, and many other factors. Missouri car accident lawyers will advise clients to follow-up with a doctor after a car accident because sometimes a knee injury is not felt immediately after a car accident, but over time the pain will get worse and the knee begins to feel unstable under the body. If there is a severe tear or several parts of the knee are injured the pain will be severe. The symptoms of a knee injury may include:
- Mild to severe pain in the knee
- Clicking or popping in the knee
- Difficulty walking or running
- Limited motion of the joint
- Tenderness with pressure
- Pain while squatting
- Knee joint locking
- Instability
- Swelling
After a Missouri car accident, people who have pain in their knee should consult a medical professional. Knee injuries are usually painful, but left untreated the injury could become much worse and require more treatment.
Types of Knee Injuries
The main knee injuries that are sustained in a Missouri car accident are tears to the Meniscus,
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL),
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL), and
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL). These types of knee injuries can be extremely painful and Missouri car accident attorneys always advise clients to be examined by a medical professional for treatment.
Torn Meniscus Knee Injury
The knee has two menisci that provide a cushion to the area between the femur and the tibia and help evenly distribute the weight of the body. If the meniscus is not there, then the body puts too much pressure on the femur and tibia causing premature arthritis. Although there are many parts to the knee, the meniscus is critical to its health and is very susceptible Missouri car accident.
Torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Knee Injury
A torn ACL is linked to athletic injuries, but a
torn ACL knee injury is also common in car accidents. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is responsible for keeping the tibia in check so it doesn't extend too far happens when the knee is twisted with force while the foot is firmly planted. A torn ACL knee injury is very common in Missouri car accident and should be examined by a doctor immediately after the accident.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Knee Injury
A MCL knee injury is like many other sprains that is the result of excessive stretching of the ligament. The most common injury to the Medial Collateral Ligament is a sudden impact to the outside of the knee joint. This knee injury is common in Missouri car accidents when the knee hits the door of the car on impact. Depending on the severity of the knee injury, a sprain or tear in the
MCL can be extremely painful.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Knee Injury
A PCL knee injury happens less often then its counterpart, the
ACL, even though they work together to hold the knee in place. A
Posterior Cruciate Ligament knee injury may not be a common injury in general, but the injury is common in Missouri car accidents. When the force of a collision drives the knee into the dash, it can cause stretching or tearing of the PCL. Although a torn PCL knee injury is not as serious as an ACL knee injury, it will still require treatment.
Treatment of a Knee Injury
The type of treatment a knee injury requires is also dependent on the severity of the injury. Most minor injuries are treated with the application of RICE. Rice stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, which is what most medical professionals will suggest immediately after a Missouri car accident. Once the swelling goes down, a doctor will run an x-ray or MRI to determine the severity of the damage. If the knee injury is just a sprain, the doctor will prescribe some pills to help with the swelling and pain, but caution that it is important to keep the knee immobile. For more severe knee injuries like a tear or rupture of the ligament, the beginning treatment is similar to a minor knee injury, but requires several weeks of immobility, physical therapy, and sometimes even requires surgery to repair the ligament.
Don't Worry About Medical Insurance.
Knee injuries that are the result of a car accident requires treatment that become expensive depending on the severity of the injury. More often than not people fail to receive medical care for the injuries because they are not covered by health insurance. If you have been injured in a car accident, you can speak to one of our Missouri car accident attorneys. We work with many medical care professionals in Missouri and can make arrangements for your treatment. In most knee injury cases, you will not be required to pay for your treatment upfront. The medical bills will be paid when your case is settled.