Injuries to the kneecap are a fairly serious pathology that requires timely and adequate treatment. The knees undergo enormous stress every day, because a huge weight presses on them while a person moves. If a crack occurs in the kneecap, the victim feels severe pain and begins to limp.
If a knee injury is left untreated, there is a risk that over time degenerative changes in the joint may occur, leading to impaired mobility, pathological pain and lameness. Complications such as inflammation of the joint often occur, so the patient needs to see a doctor immediately after the injury and begin proper treatment.
Anatomy
The knee joint is one of the largest joints in the human body; it is formed by three large bones: the femur, tibia and patella. The knee allows flexion and extension of the leg, which allows you to move normally and make fairly sharp and fast movements.
The joint is surrounded by large muscles and ligaments that are also involved in movement. Injuries to the kneecap may cause damage to ligaments and muscles, as well as cartilage and menisci. Such injuries are especially dangerous and, if not treated in a timely manner, lead to disability and inevitable surgical intervention.
Many patients believe that their knees are so strong that there is no need to worry about their integrity. Just remember the children who hurt their knees several times a year and the injuries heal without a trace. But do not forget that with age, the musculoskeletal system becomes less strong and takes longer to recover, so even if you fall from your own height, a fracture or crack of the kneecap is possible.
Knee joint injuries: types and features
The knee joint experiences serious stress throughout a person’s life. Therefore, damage to this area occurs relatively often. The most common types of knee injuries are:
- bruise - damage to tissues that does not violate their integrity and does not cause serious limitation of their functions;
- sprain - a violation of the integrity of the ligaments, in the most severe form leading to their rupture;
- meniscus injury - injury to intra-articular cartilage;
- dislocation - disruption of the structure of the connection of the surfaces of the bones forming the joint;
- fracture - complete or partial disruption of the integrity of the bone.
A special case of a fracture, in which the damage (fracture) is local in nature and does not threaten bone deformation, is a crack. We will talk about it in more detail.
Causes
Cracks in the kneecap usually occur after an injury, such as falling onto a hard surface, especially from a height onto your knees. A crack can also occur when a pedestrian is hit, when the knees receive a strong blow, in which case a complete fracture is possible. It all depends on the force with which the impact occurred.
It's also worth noting that there are a number of people who are more susceptible to knee injuries:
- People leading an active lifestyle;
- Professional athletes;
- Workers in hazardous professions, for example, climbers, miners, etc.
- Aged people;
- Obese patients;
- Patients with diseases of bone tissue and joints;
- People who lead a passive lifestyle;
- Those who don't watch their diet.
In general, people whose bodies are weakened are more susceptible to injuries to the kneecap and other bones and joints. To reduce the risk of such an injury, you need to eat well, exercise, and strengthen your muscles and bones. In older people, taking calcium and vitamin D plays an important role; it is also necessary to wear comfortable, non-slippery shoes and avoid climbing to heights to reduce the risk of falling.
Crack in the knee joint: risk groups and methods of prevention
Medical statistics show that some people experience this type of injury more often than others. They can be divided into two large groups: those whose legs are subject to greater stress, and those whose bones are weakened by internal processes in the body. The first include:
- professional athletes;
- representatives of certain professions associated with an increased risk of injury: miners, industrial climbers, masons, etc.;
- people with an active lifestyle.
The second group includes persons:
- elderly;
- are overweight;
- suffering from diseases of the joints and bone tissue;
- consuming large amounts of junk food;
- facing an eating disorder.
For this second group, the underlying reason for the increased risk of injury lies in the disruption of metabolic processes in skeletal tissues. The fact is that bone formation is a rather complex mechanism, which is influenced by many factors, primarily of a biochemical nature. The first and obvious is the presence in the body of a sufficient amount of calcium, which we obtain from food from various chemical compounds. This element acts as the main building material, but its presence alone does not exhaust the issue. If it is not built into the bone structure in a timely manner, then sooner or later it ends up inappropriately: it is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, in joints and soft tissues, including inside organs. All this leads to the development of serious diseases: in the first case - atherosclerosis, in the second - arthritis and arthrosis, in the third - stone disease of the kidneys and gall bladder.
In order for the bone formation process to be successful, agent substances are also needed, the most famous of which is vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). This compound is one of the few types of vitamins that are produced independently by our body. However, this requires sunlight. Therefore, many residents of our country are faced with cholecalciferol deficiency. Its deficiency is often compensated with the help of special drugs.
Another vitamin plays an important role - B6 (adermine). It is a conductor of magnesium into cells, and magnesium helps retain calcium in newborn bone cells.
Relatively recently, it became known about the role of sex hormones in the formation and strengthening of the skeleton. Insufficient levels of testosterone (typical, by the way, for people over 40 years of age, and especially women) leads to disturbances in the process of bone formation. This is why there is such an obvious correlation between age and the likelihood of developing osteopenia and osteoporosis. It should be noted that, despite its reputation as a “male hormone,” testosterone is produced in the body of any person, regardless of gender.
The above information has one important consequence. Bone tissue can be strengthened in a targeted manner. Moreover, this is true both for healthy individuals with an increased risk of injury, and for those who, for one reason or another, have had metabolic disorders. The main thing is to do it wisely. What does this mean?
Firstly, if you decide to take calcium supplements, it is necessary that they contain compounds with a high proportion of absorption of this element by the digestive system. Thus, most calcium-containing products on pharmacy shelves are made on the basis of calcium carbonate (essentially ordinary chalk). Its absorption rate is no more than 20% and rapidly decreases when the acidity of gastric juice is disturbed. For comparison, calcium citrate (citric acid salt) has an indicator of about 46%. In addition, it significantly reduces the excretion of the element through the excretory system.
Secondly, for better absorption of calcium in the stomach, you should maintain the level of vitamin D3, but avoid overdosing it - this can lead to unpleasant side effects.
Third, maintain testosterone levels, since it provides a sufficient number of osteoblasts, cells that build calcium into the collagen network of bones. This point is the most difficult. Today there are many products based on synthetic or animal hormones. But they are known for numerous side effects, including the development of cancer.
Research in recent years has made it possible to find another, much safer way to solve this problem. The decrease in the production of hormones with age, among other things, is due to the fact that these are chemically complex substances, the synthesis of which consists of a long chain of transformations of one chemical substance into another. At the penultimate stage, prohormones are produced, which subsequently serve as the main material for the final stage. If you provide them ready-made to the body, then on their basis it will be able to synthesize its own hormones, including testosterone.
This principle, as well as all the above factors, were taken into account when developing the innovative vitamin and mineral complex Osteomed Forte. The source of prohormones in it is a special beekeeping product, drone homogenate, or HDBA organic complex. In addition, it is rich in vitamins, amino acids and minerals, which are also involved in the formation of collagen fibers - the substance that underlies the bone matrix. In addition to the HDBA organic complex, the drug contains the two most important vitamins for bones: D3 and B6 in a strictly adjusted dosage. And finally, the source of building material for bone tissue is the calcium citrate we have already mentioned.
This composition allows for a variety of uses of the vitamin-mineral complex. Thus, Osteomed Forte can significantly reduce the recovery time after a fracture or crack. If there is a crack in the kneecap, the victim will be able to remove the plaster 1–2 weeks earlier, and subsequent rehabilitation measures will take less time.
The drug is also suitable as a preventive measure. The course is recommended for representatives of all the risk groups mentioned above. This is especially true for older people and people with metabolic disorders in the bones. Moreover, Osteomed Forte not only protects against traumatic bone destruction, but also helps fight osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Professional athletes and supporters of an active lifestyle will also be interested to know that an analogue of the vitamin and mineral complex Osteomed Forte is produced in the Fitness&Life series of sports nutrition called Osteomed.
purchase the innovative vitamin and mineral complex Osteomed Forte, , in pharmacies in your city or through online stores.
Symptoms
Cracks and fractures of the kneecap are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Pain that appears immediately after an injury and does not go away after some time. So, with a soft tissue bruise, a person can walk normally, feeling aching pain, but with a crack, the pain is more pronounced. When a kneecap is fractured, the pain is severe; because of it, the patient cannot walk or straighten the leg. If you press on the knee when it is cracked, the pain will intensify.
- Redness and swelling appear, and over time, a hematoma may occur due to damage to the capillaries upon impact. Cracks and fractures are often accompanied by hemorrhage into the joint cavity, which is especially dangerous, since the injury can be complicated by inflammation.
- The patient protects and spares the leg, does not step on it and does not straighten it completely, so as not to feel pain.
It is worth noting that often the symptoms of a fissure are mild and more similar to a regular bruise: the swelling is small, the hematoma does not appear, so the patient does not see a doctor. You shouldn’t do this; lack of treatment can lead to chronic degenerative joint disease, which you will have to fight for the rest of your life.
Structure and function of the kneecap
The knee joint is the largest in the human body. It binds three bones:
- tibial
- femoral,
- patella.
The design as a whole guarantees ease of bending and extension during movement. The complex under the kneecap also includes:
- menisci,
- cartilage tissue,
- muscles,
- ligaments
We all regularly broke our knees as children: they healed quickly and did not bother us in the future. However, with age, the musculoskeletal system weakens. Recovery takes longer, and complications occur more frequently. Moreover, if an adult falls from a height, the risk of seriously damaging the knee joint, including a crack in the cup, is much higher.
The main purpose of the kneecap is to protect the joint from injury and external influences. The kneecap is also involved in regulating the force of muscle contractions during movement.
When the knee extends, the cup moves forward slightly while simultaneously moving upward relative to the joint gap. When the knee bends, it moves towards the notch. This protects the joint from impacts. If the impact is large enough, a crack or fracture is possible. Interesting to read about the knee bruise.
First aid
In case of a knee injury, it is very important to immediately take the victim to the hospital. Since it is not known how badly the kneecap is injured, immobilization is necessary. If the leg is not immobilized, then displacement of fragments and other complications can occur.
In case of a knee injury, especially if the blow was strong or an elderly person was injured, an ambulance must be called. If it is not possible to call doctors, you need to immobilize the leg with a splint and transport the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible.
Diagnostics
When a patient enters a medical facility, he is examined by a traumatologist, who can usually immediately suspect the presence of a crack, fracture, rupture of ligaments and other pathologies of the joint. To confirm the diagnosis and identify the location and extent of bone tissue damage, the patient is sent for radiography.
Sometimes radiography is not informative enough, but this happens extremely rarely. In this case, the doctor refers the patient to a CT scan. Computed tomography helps to view the joint from all sides and accurately identify the size and location of the fracture/crack. The patient also undergoes a puncture of the knee joint if hemorrhage occurs.
Treatment
A crack in the knee is always treated conservatively, since with such an injury there are no bone fragments that need to be compared. If the patient consults a doctor in a timely manner, then the prognosis is positive. The crack heals quickly and rarely causes serious complications.
During treatment, the following measures are prescribed:
- The knee joint is immobilized therapeutically using a plaster splint or a special orthosis;
- Prescribe calcium and vitamin D for rapid healing;
- Painkillers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed if the patient is bothered by pain.
- If hemorrhage occurs in the joint, a therapeutic puncture and antibiotics are prescribed.
During the treatment period, the patient must take care of his leg so that the kneecap heals faster. It is also necessary to monitor your diet, eat less salty, fatty and spicy foods and consume enough fresh vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Good nutrition and normal metabolism will ensure rapid healing of the fracture. The patient will quickly return to normal life.
In cases where a fracture has occurred with displacement of the fragments, surgical treatment is most often prescribed. The doctor restores the kneecap by collecting the fragments and securing them (Libov's patella suture).
Types of fractures
Based on external symptoms and examination results, it is usually easy for specialists to determine the types of fractures or cracks in the knee. The type of injury you receive depends on the force of the impact and the cause of its occurrence. More often the kneecap is damaged along a horizontal line. If some space is formed between the bone fragments, there is a high risk of a displaced fracture. Sometimes, although extremely rarely, the calyx ruptures completely.
The most common damage is in its lower part. It is here that there is practically no cartilage tissue that protects the knees. There are vertical fractures when the line of damage runs along the cup from top to bottom. With such injuries, bone fragments do not appear. The fact is that cartilage is able to restrain the development of injury. However, comminuted multiple fractures with more than two fragments still occur.
The rarest type of patella fracture is osteochondral. At the same time, the condyles of the femoral bone are damaged. This type of injury is diagnosed using a computed tomography (CT) scan. This examination allows you to isolate fragments separated from the bones.
Rehabilitation
After the cast is removed, the patient is prescribed a course of rehabilitation, which is aimed at strengthening the muscles and gradually developing the knee. Do not give full load at once. This can cause pain, swelling and contracture (immobilization) of the joint. It is better to gradually increase the load, gradually moving from simple exercises to more complex ones. An indicator of the adequacy of the load is pain. When it appears, the load is reduced.
During the rehabilitation period, physical therapy is prescribed, which strengthens the muscles and develops the joint, and also improves nutrition and blood circulation in the tissues. Example exercises:
- You need to stand up straight and raise your straight leg above the floor, hold it in this position for a few seconds. Then lower your leg, rest a little and repeat the exercise with the second leg.
- You need to stand behind a chair and rest your hands on its back. Rise on your toes and hold for a few seconds, then relax and repeat 2-3 more times.
- You need to sit on the floor or on a flat sofa, straighten your legs. Bend over, trying to reach your toes with your hands. Don't stretch too much; you should feel pressure under your knee, but not pain.
- The gymnastics is completed with a massage around the knee joint, in the thigh and lower leg area, to improve blood circulation.
It is very important to do the exercises correctly and regularly. You can start practicing only after permission from a specialist. It is better to take the first classes in a physical therapy room. Later you can train at home. If knee pain occurs during exercise, then it is necessary to reduce the load. Also, after a fracture and crack of the kneecap, a patient is advised to attend physical therapy.
For a knee injury, the following physical procedures are prescribed:
- Magnetotherapy;
- Laser therapy;
- UHF;
- Electrophoresis;
- Ultrasound treatment;
- Paraffin and ozokerite, etc.
The physiotherapist decides which procedures to attend in a particular case. He prescribes the duration of the procedures and their number, and selects the device. The physiotherapist makes a decision based on the main diagnosis and concomitant diseases.
Folk remedies
The use of traditional medicine recipes is only possible in the complex treatment of a cracked patella. You should not self-medicate, as there is a high risk of complications. It is very important to consult a doctor before using any product and make sure that you are not allergic to its components.
Remedies effective for fractures and cracks:
- To speed up bone tissue recovery, you need to consume enough foods with calcium. This substance is found in large quantities in cottage cheese, cheese, fermented milk and dairy products.
- Chamomile tea or tea made from mint and currant leaves has an excellent anti-inflammatory effect, soothes and normalizes sleep. It is better to drink it instead of regular tea, which contains caffeine, since caffeine interferes with the absorption of calcium.
- You can also replace tea and coffee with rosehip decoction; it contains a large amount of vitamins, strengthens the immune system and accelerates tissue healing after injuries.
- Dishes containing gelatin accelerate the healing of fractures: aspic, jellied, berry and fruit jelly with gelatin.