Kneecap Fracture Treatment | Kneecap Bone Fracture Surgery

Basically, we are already familiar with the different types of fracture: open and closed fracture, complete and incomplete fracture, and many other types that varies in complexity and severity. At the same time, forms of fracture such a Jones fracture and Jefferson fracture are also becoming known to us due to the different articles and news that we hear about these conditions in the foot and vertebrae, respectively. Because of this, different matters relating to complete or incomplete fracture of a bone is not that hard to understand anymore. As we delve into more specific and complicated forms of fracture, we can appreciate the knowledge that we would learn. As for this article, we will be talking about Patella fracture or better known as the kneecap fracture.

The kneecap fracture is clinically known as the patella fracture. As for this article, we would be randomly using both terms. A fractured kneecap is caused by a direct and hard blow to the patella region. As we go on with this article, we will learn more about this condition.

Definition and overview

The patella fracture is a clinical term for a fractured or broken knee cap. This type of injury affects the patella bone (or kneecap) which is just located in front of our knee joint. If we try to figure this out, the round or angular cap-shaped structure that we will feel on our knee as we sit or bend it is what we call as the patella bone or better known as kneecap. When this portion suffers from fracture injury, performance and abilities of an individual would greatly be affected. This is because a broken kneecap will affect certain parts of the body especially the quadriceps.

Usually, this form of kneecap bone fracture occurs to male whose age range from 20 to 50. This is due to the activities that they perform which are also the common causes of knee cap fracture.

Causes of kneecap fracture

There can be many instances that would lead to this kind of kneecap fractures. Among the most common causes are vehicular accidents and sports-related injuries. In both cases, the knee is exposed to a hard and direct blow which is too much for the bones to withstand. Even falling can also lead to broken kneecap bones. Because of this, fractures occur. In addition, sudden and extreme contraction of the quadriceps may also lead to the same condition. Still, there are only few cases related to the latter cause. Of course, these instances are also affected with the condition of the bone that an individual has. Older people are usually the victims of this fractured kneecap bone because their bones are already brittle enough to withstand forceful blow.

More over, there can be other ways that causes this type of fracture. As long as there is a hard and forceful blow on the kneecap region, the possibility of a patella fracture would really occur. Thus, if one does not want to suffer from this type of broken knee cap fracture, avoiding any accident that may cause it is necessary.

Classifications of patella fracture

There are certain classifications for patella fracture. Each classification indicates a certain condition of the sore knee cap. Transverse type of kneecap fractures is associated with the mid line being broken which separates the kneecap to lower and upper divisions. On the other hand, comminuted knee injury diagnosis is the condition wherein the kneecap suffers from multiple fractures. Another type of this kneecap injury, the osteochondral kneecap fractures is the condition where the cartilage is already part of the damage.

Still, there are other types of knee fracture. Identifying them would help in understanding the severity of one’s condition and knowing the proper knee fracture treatment that one must undergo when faced in this kind of fracture.

Signs and symptoms of patella fracture

A swollen kneecap together with knee pain is just few of kneecap fracture symptoms.  Almost immediately after the forceful blow or impact on the knee cap, swelling and pain can be felt. At the same time, the injured individual would have a difficulty in bending the fractured knee cap. In worst cases of knee fracture, when the knee cap is totally broken, a gap on the knee can be felt. When all these fractured kneecap symptoms are observed, sending the injured individual to the hospital is a must. This would prevent further fracture complications and the immediate elimination of pain and swelling.

It would also be necessary to consider some first aid treatments beforehand. By doing so, further damage to the bone can be prevented. When we talk about first aid treatment, we are talking about cold compress, demobilizing the injured feet, and medicines that can relieve pain and has anti-inflammatory properties. With this and more, we can help in avoiding to worsen the condition of one’s knee injuries.

Kneecap Fracture Diagnosis

Immediately after the blow, as already mentioned one can feel pain and swelling on the patella region. Because of these fracture symptoms, we can already anticipate a fracture on the area. However, we can better conclude the condition by going through an X-ray test. This is the best way to identify if an individual really has a bone fracture and what classification or type of fracture he/she has. Through this same method, the doctor would be able to derive a procedure that would treat knee fracture.

Care and treatment

Different conditions of knee tendon injuries and patella fracture would demand different kinds of care and treatment to fully recover. When it is just a hairline fracture kneecap or usually an undisplaced patella fracture, knee brace for running or a fracture cast is all that a person would need. This would mean that the fractured knee would need to be in brace/braces for six weeks. After this recovery time, the patient can already remove the cast and the patella fracture together with the kneecap ligament damage is already fixed. However, in cases where the knee cap is really displaced, a need for a fracture surgery is necessary. This means that knee cap broken into several pieces just like the comminuted fracture which has already been discussed earlier. This kind of surgery will usually involve knee cap replacement and removal. Then, the fractured individual would then need braces to correct the condition. After which, the need for exercises would also be essential in the knee cap fracture recovery and treatment process as a rehabilitation means. This would improve the strength of the quadriceps which is highly affected as the fracture occurred.

Knee Cap Recovery

In worse cases like kneecap replacement, the need for a rehabilitation procedure is necessary. This is because there is a need to restore the strength and endurance of the knee cap region. At the same time, the quadriceps are also highly affected by the procedure that the rehab would be able to aid this problem.

The kneecap fracture healing time varies on the requirement of the attending surgeon. In some cases, the surgeon would already allow the physiotherapist to take over after two to three weeks of being in fracture cast. In other cases, it may take longer. The initial step that is being addressed by the physiotherapist during this period is the swelling and pain of the patella region. This is commonly treated with cold compress. At the same time, this procedure aids the internal bleeding in the tissue. After six to twelve weeks of rehabilitation procedure, the condition of the knee can somehow be restored. During this time, different exercises are being employed.

There are actually more details about this type of fracture. As we get to read more about it, we will also be able to find more interesting details about it. Since we already started learning this kind of fracture through this article, reading more would not be much of a hassle anymore. After all, there are already many articles out there that discuss this type of fracture.