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Knee Injury
Knee injury, common among auto accident victims, occurs when there is a swift blow to the knee or when the leg becomes contorted in such a manner that the knee hyperextends. During a crash, it is probable that a passenger's knee(s) will bang into an internal panel or component of the automobile, especially during a rollover accident. People frequently suffer knee injuries after a collision with the dashboard, door, window, or even the roof.
The most commonly occurring knee injury suffered during an auto accident involves the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). A torn ACL accounts for more than two-thirds of knee injuries and is typical among athletes. When someone injures their ACL in a car crash, it is due to very intense twisting of the knee joint in which the ACL is strained or tears under stress. The level of ACL injury depends upon whether it is torn or ruptured. A tear may be painful, but you will still be able to put pressure on that knee. On the other hand, if the ligament ruptures, you will be very unsteady on your feet and not be able to walk at all.
ACL injuries sustained in auto accidents may leave the victim with little to no use of that particular leg for quite awhile. An ACL injury is diagnosed via x-ray to give a physician an indication of the severity the patient is dealing with. A doctor may recommend surgery for very serious ACL injuries, but at the very least, the patient will need a long period of inactivity while wearing a supportive brace and employing additional recuperative methods.
Car accidents are sometimes responsible for another kind of knee injury in which the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is affected. An injury of the MCL is much rarer than a damaged ACL, but the ligament can be more vulnerable if it is hit with a direct blow during a crash. The MCL is positioned on the inner part of the knee outside the knee joint. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL), which is opposite the MCL on the outer part of the knee, can be injured in an auto accident just as easily. A victim of a torn MCL or LCL may feel and hear a pop as the ligament reaches its breaking point. Symptoms and care for LCL and MCL injuries are comparable to an ACL injury.
Another type of knee injury caused by a car crash concerns the posterior collateral ligament (PCL). This injury is produced by a solid strike to a bent knee (e.g., collision with the dashboard or another stationary object). PCL injuries feature symptoms such as pain, inflammation, and semi or complete instability of the knee. Less common injuries to the meniscus, patella (dislocation), tendon (rupture), and kneecap (fracture) can also be the result of a traumatizing car accident.
