The knee joint is a complex structure with various bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage working in sync for seamless movement of the knees and legs.
The concerned bones are thigh-bone (femur), shin bone (tibia), and knee-cap (patella). The concerned ligaments are anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate (ACL, PCL), medial collateral, and lateral collateral (MCL, LCL).
The knee too is vulnerable to various conditions. These should not be ignored and must be attended to by experienced orthopedic doctors.
There are 4 ligaments that connect the bones in the knee joint to one another. When one or more ligaments get stretched badly, which typically happens in contact sports like football, one may experience a sprain. Falling hard on the knee or any accident that delivers a hard knock on the knee can also cause a sprain. While minor sprains can heal with adequate rest, serious ones that cause a lot of pain must be attended by a doctor.
When one or more bones that make up the knee joint are moved out of their original position, this is called a dislocation. Its characterized by sharp pain and loss of movement in the knee. This typically happens during motor vehicle accidents, falls, and contact sports. People with congenital structural deformities can also suffer from such sprains.
If the person sustains a severe fall on the knee, more often than not, it causes a fracture in the knee cap. This can also happen due to motor vehicle accidents. People with osteoporosis can sustain a fracture when they trip or keep a wrong step due to uneven surfaces.
The ACL is one of the four ligaments that connect the bones in the knee joint and provides stability to the knee. Contact-sports such as football, gymnastics, and motor-vehicle accidents can cause a tear in the ACL. The degree of tear is graded as 1, 2 or 3, with 1 being mild and 3 being severe. While grade 1 tears heal slowly on their own, grades 2 and 3 tears will require some form of intervention. ACL tear is a common problem with sportspersons as well as those in professions that require weight-bearing or heavy manual work. One of the risk factors for ACL tear is stopping suddenly or changing direction sharply while running.
The menisci (singular – meniscus) are 2, C-shaped pieces of cartilage present in the knee joint. They act as shock absorbers and cushion the movement between the femur and tibia. Contact-sports such as football can cause one or both menisci to tear, causing a popping sound. The person may suffer pain, tightness or swelling in the knee for a few days after the tear. Age-related degeneration can also cause meniscal tears in elders.
In addition to the bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage, the knee joint also contains fluid-filled sacs called bursae which cushion the movement of the ligaments and tendons in the knee. Sometimes, over-exercising (common with sportspersons) or repeated kneeling down due to various activities can cause inflammation in the bursae, with the condition being called Bursitis. Generally, not a serious problem, bursitis can be healed through rest. In some cases, antibiotics or draining out the excess fluid (aspiration) may be required.
The patellar tendon which connects the patella (knee-cap) with the shin-bone (tibia) can develop inflammation and this condition is called patellar tendonitis. This typically happens to sportspersons who jump a lot but can happen to anybody who is physically very active.
The different tendons in the knee joint can tear, and this is quite common in sportspersons who stretch a lot or elders who sustained a fall or tripping. Direct impact on the knee due to an accident of any kind can also cause tendon tears.
The MCL and LCL are 2 ligaments that prevent the femur from sliding side-wise. Sportspersons or anybody who collides with another person or object with an impact can suffer injuries to these ligaments.
There is a long thin ligament that runs the entire length of the leg right from the pelvis to the tibia. In some people, such as long-distance runners or those who over-exercise, this band becomes tight and rubs against the femur. This can cause pain between the hips and knees.
When the knee joint is bent and it suffers an impact due to a fall, collision or accident, the PCL can get injured.
If you have suffered a recent injury to the knee and are experiencing one or more of the below, you should consult an orthopaedic doctor immediately.
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I finally understand the difference between sprain and ligament tear. Also there are so many types of knee injuries!!
My husband suffered from a ligament tear and was suggested a minor surgery. I was agitated but later learnt that it was common among sportsmen.
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