A kneecap fracture can occur from a fall or direct impact, causing instability and pain. Treatment varies based on severity, with nonsurgical options including leg casts and RICE treatment. Surgery may be necessary for more severe cases, with healing time ranging from weeks to months.
A kneecap fracture occurs when the kneecap, or kneecap, is cracked or broken. This usually occurs after a fall, although direct impacts to the kneecap can also cause a kneecap fracture. Treatment for such an injury will vary based on the severity of the damage, and many kneecap injuries can be treated nonsurgically. The injured person will most likely need to wear a leg cast in this case and healing time can vary. If surgery is needed, the healing time will be longer and sometimes painful.
The kneecap is one of the three bones that make up the knee joint, and its primary responsibility is for knee stability. When a patella fracture occurs, the knee may become unstable, weakened, painful, or otherwise limited in its motion. To determine whether a patella fracture will require surgery, a doctor may ask a patient to perform a straight leg raise, in which the patient lifts their leg while lying on their back. If he or she can do the lift, surgery probably isn’t necessary. If the patient cannot lift the leg, a doctor may do other tests to determine if surgery will be needed.
A patella fracture is often accompanied by swelling or hematoma. A doctor can drain the hematoma to help the patient avoid excess pain, and the swelling will be treated with RICE treatment. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. These actions help reduce swelling and pain by increasing blood flow to the injury, which in turn promotes faster healing. The injured person will need to stay away from the affected leg for a significant amount of time to allow for the patella fracture to heal, and while healing times may vary based on the severity of the fracture and the patient’s overall health, an injured person can expect to stay out of the leg for several weeks or months.
A cast is often applied to the affected leg to immobilize the knee joint. If surgery is needed, an incision will be made in your knee and screws or plates may be inserted into the kneecap to fix it. It may also be necessary to realign the kneecap to allow for normal function of the joint. A fracture can displace the kneecap, causing additional pain and immobilization, requiring surgery to repair.
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