Common Knee Injuries In A Connecticut Auto Accident

Involvement in any kind of Connecticut auto accident often leaves people feeling shaken, overwhelmed, and unsure of what the future may hold. You may walk away from the accident with cuts, bruises, and/or more severe long-term injuries. Knee injuries are some of the most common injuries associated with auto accidents.

Suffering from a knee injury can cause intense pain and severely affect your quality of life, including limiting your ability to go to work, complete basic household tasks, and participate in hobbies or extracurricular activities.

Knee injuries from a Connecticut auto accident can range in severity and the mechanism of injury can play a role. What may start out as soreness, stiffness, and limited range of motion can turn into something more serious. Many times, knee injuries cannot be fully detected without treatment from a specialist or orthopedic doctor and in-depth testing, such as Magnetic Resource Imaging (MRI).

Some common knee injuries include:

– Strains and sprains. The most common type, you may feel pain without having suffered some type of ligament or cartilage tear. Just because your injury is classified as a strain or sprain does not mean you are home free. Knee sprains and strains can still cause discomfort and prevent you from being able to work or partake in hobbies.

• Torn ligaments. The knee has four ligaments: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). These ligaments are tough connective tissue that connect the upper leg to the lower leg. Doctors often grade ligament tears on a scale of 1-3: Grade 1 means mild injury, Grade 2 means a partial tear, and Grade 3 means a complete tear. Sometimes, these injuries can heal with rest or physical therapy, but if you cannot bear any weight, surgery may be needed in order to rebuild strength and stabilization.
  
  
• Torn meniscus. Each knee has two discs of connective tissue known as menisci, and they are designed to absorb shock. One’s meniscus can be torn from a trauma involving severe twisting. Common symptoms of a torn meniscus include swelling, stiffness, weakness, instability, or feeling a “click” upon movement.
  
  
• Fractured kneecap. This injury can be quite painful, making it difficult to even extend your knee or walk without a significant limp. A stable patellar fracture is a nondisplaced fracture, meaning the pieces of bone remain in touch with each other for the most part. A comminuted fracture involves the bone shattering into three or more pieces. On the other hand, an open fracture can be the most serious, as in this situation the break causes bone fragment to stick out through the skin.

If you or your loved injured a knee in a Connecticut auto accident, contact our firm immediately. Our team is experienced at handling cases like this.