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Car accidents are scary events that can cause a number of injuries. An area of the body that many people experience injuries in after a car accident is the knees.
The positioning of the knees in an accident often leads to injuries because the legs either absorb impact directly in the collision or are straightened out when you attempt to brace yourself. Straightening your legs out when bracing yourself can cause the knees to absorb more shock, which contributes to injuries.
Three common problems in the knee after an accident
- Dashboard knee — Dashboard knee is a common name for injuries that affect your kneecap in an automobile accident. It’s very common for the knees of drivers and passengers to slam against the dashboard in a collision. The resulting injuries to the patella (the kneecap) can include fractures, dislocations, and deep bruising.
If you have pain and swelling around your kneecap after an automobile accident, you may have a dashboard knee. - Sprained ligament — You have four major ligaments in each of your knees: the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
We don’t want to bog you down with too much detail about the ligaments. What you need to know for now is that they provide stability for the knee. In a car accident, these ligaments can stretch and tear, which is painful and limits the range of motion in your knee. - Torn meniscus — Between the shin- and thighbones on each side of your knee are small, flat, C-shaped discs of cartilage known as the menisci. These menisci prevent friction between the bones of the knee and help absorb shock in an impact.
If your knee twists in an accident, a meniscus can tear, which is painful and can prevent your ability to fully straighten or bend your knee until it’s repaired.
Visit the iRISE Spine and Joint Institute today for knee pain treatment
Do you have knee pain after a recent automobile accident? Even if you don’t think it’s serious, don’t wait to get help. Your condition may be more severe than you realize.
Visit the Florida Spine and Joint Institute for an examination and treatment. Our team has years of experience in helping people overcome conditions like those listed here and many more. Contact us today for more information about knee problems after a car accident or to schedule an initial appointment.
