Knee injuries are some of the most common injuries associated with personal injury claims in Carrollton, GA. This is because the knee is among the body’s most complex, largest, and most at-risk joints when an accident occurs. You may have tripped or slipped and fallen. You may have been in an auto accident. You might have fallen from a height. You may even have a sports injury. Depending on the circumstances of your knee injury, you may even have a valid personal injury claim against a driver, a property owner, or another entity. Today, we’ll look at the most common knee injuries that we see in Carrollton, Georgia, personal injury claims at the Law Offices of John B. Jackson & Associates.
The Importance of Your Knee Joints in Work, at Home, and in Everyday Life
Your knee joint connects your shin and your thigh and is essential for supporting your weight and allowing for smooth movement when you walk, run, bend, and lift. Without a well functioning knee joint, you can suffer tremendously. You may be unable to work, perform simple tasks at home, or enjoy your life to the fullest. Yet, the knee is also particularly vulnerable to certain injuries. There are ligaments, tendons, cartilage, muscles, and bones that can become damaged. The soft tissues can be torn or the bones can be fractured or dislocated. This can greatly limit your mobility.
Bone Fractures to the Knee Cap Can Greatly Disrupt Your Life
Your knee has a knee cap, also called a patella, and it protects the joint beneath from damage. If you fall or suffer from any kind of impact, the kneecap could become fractured. This is particularly common in sports injuries, auto accidents, and falls from heights. You may need surgery to correct a fractured knee cap, or you may simply have to be immobile until the injury heals. In any event, there will be financial expenses and losses associated with the injury and you may pursue compensation from anyone who may have been negligent in causing your injury.
Dislocations of the Knee Can Occur in Serious Accidents
Like a broken knee cap, a dislocated knee can happen in a variety of ways. It may be a fall from a height, a slip or trip and fall, an auto accident, a sports injury, etc. In some cases, the knee is twisted in such a way that a dislocation could occur in this manner too. When the bones of the knee are dislocated or moved out of place, then they must be forced back into position in a painful relocation procedure. You will be given a mild sedative to minimize the pain and discomfort of relocation.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injuries Can Make it Impossible to Walk
Your knee has ligaments to join the bones. The anterior cruciate ligament is one that attaches the upper part of your leg bones to the lower part of your leg bones. You cannot stand or walk with stability without these ligaments. They may be damaged through sports injuries or other accidents. It could be a minor tear in the ligament that causes problems or it could be as severe as a complete tear or a separation of the ligament from the bone. When this happens, you may need surgery, and you are likely to require a substantial amount of physical rehabilitation as well.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injuries Can Combine with Other Knee Injuries
Another ligament that connects your leg bones at the knee joint is the posterior cruciate ligament. These are subject to similar injuries as the anterior cruciate ligament, but are more likely to occur in addition to other knee injuries, such as dislocations and other torn ligaments. If there are no other injuries, then you may not require surgery to correct this injury. However, if other injuries to the knee also occur, then surgery may be necessary.
Collateral Ligament Knee Injuries Involve Easily Torn Ligaments in the Lower Leg
The knee injury that is most likely to occur while playing sports is the collateral ligament knee injury. It typically happens when the lower part of your leg is forcefully moved sideways, resulting in the tear. This is another kind of injury that may not require surgery, unless there are further knee injuries at the same time. Physical rehabilitation may be enough if there are no other injuries.
Meniscal Tear Knee Injuries Involve the Cartilage of the Knee
The cartilage that sits between your knee joint is called the meniscus. It is the part of your knee that acts as a shock absorber when you walk or run. It cushions the joint to prevent it from being damaged. Injuries to the meniscus frequently occur in situations where you must jump or quickly change directions when you are running one way but have to quickly turn. These injuries often require surgery to repair.
Tendon Tear Knee Injuries are Very Common in Older Adults
The older you get, the easier it is to injure the tendons of your knee. The patellar tendon works along with your muscles in the knee and the thigh and keeps your leg straight. If this tendon is torn, then you could end up disabled and will certainly require surgery to improve your condition and stabilize the knee. You then must rest for a period of time before getting physical therapy to recover.
What to Do if You Have a Knee Injury Caused by Someone Else’s Negligence
If you suffer from any kind of knee injury, you will need to seek treatment from an orthopedic surgeon or specialist. It is important to do so quickly to prevent the damage from growing worse. If you believe that your injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, then contact the Law Offices of John B. Jackson & Associates to schedule a free consultation with a skilled Carrollton, GA, personal injury legal team.
