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Orthopedic Knee Fracture Specialist Pottstown, PA

Orthopedic Knee Fracture Specialist Pottstown, PA If you live in Pennsylvania and have suffered a knee fracture, an orthopedic knee fracture specialist Pottstown, PA residents trust can help provide the best treatment options and help you heal as quickly as possible.

Knee Fractures

The knee is made up of four bones: the lower leg bones, which are called the fibula and the tibia, the kneecap, which is called the patella, and the upper leg bone, which is called the femur or thighbone.

A knee fracture occurs when one or more of the bones of the knee break or crack. Some knee fractures are just small cracks in the bone, while other types of fractures can result in the bone-shattering. Some fractures may be so serious the bone breaks through the skin.

Knee fractures can happen for a number of reasons. Some of the more common causes of fractures an orthopedic knee doctor Pottstown, PA patients recommend include car accidents, slip, and fall accidents, sports injuries, or hits to the knee.

Symptoms that your knee may be fractured are:

  •       Bruising, pain, swelling, or tenderness right after the injury happens
  •       Difficulty bending the knee
  •       Difficulty bending the knee
  •       Difficulty putting weight on the leg
  •       Feeling the bones grate against each other when the leg is moved
  •       Leg takes on a different shape
  •       Muscle spasms
  •       Pain is worse when the knee or leg is moved
  •       Pain when the area that is injured is touched

If a doctor suspects that a patient’s knee is fractured, they will order diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and other types of scans. Once the doctor has confirmed that the knee is fractured, treatment will depend on the extent of the fracture.

The first thing the doctor will do is move the broken pieces of the bone back into place. If there is an open wound where the fracture is, the doctor will do whatever is needed to control any bleeding, as well as proper care and medication to prevent infection.

If the fracture is too bad that the doctor cannot just move the bones back into place, surgery may be needed. The doctor may use pins, plates, rods, screws, or wires to hold the pieces of the bones in place.

A patient is usually sent home wearing a brace, splint, cast, or knee immobilizer in order to keep the knee from moving while it heals. Healing can take four to six weeks. The doctor will advise how much weight the patient is able to put on the leg if any weight at all. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe the use of crutches or a cane to help keep that weight off and assistant in walking. The doctor may also recommend physical therapy to help build the strength back up once the fracture has completely healed.

If you have suffered a knee fracture or other injury, call Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania to meet with an orthopedic knee fracture specialist in Pottstown, PA.