Knee Sprain Orthopaedic Knee sprain happens when the ligaments that connect the bones of the upper and lower leg at the knee joint are suddenly stretched or torn. Ligaments are strong band-like structures that hold bones and joints together. Causes • A sudden twisting of the knee joint may cause a knee sprain. Twisting of the knee joint happens commonly in sports such as football, basketball, and when there is a sudden change of position during running, jumping and landing. • Direct hits to the knee. Sprains may be caused by knocks or hits to the knees e.g. tripping and falling onto your knees while they are bent, or during a car accident. How serious is a knee sprain? The severity of a sprain can range from mild to severe, depending on how badly the ligament has been
stretched and whether or not the knee joint has been made unstable. Symptoms • Stiffness or decreased movement • Pain or tenderness • Painful pop that you can hear or feel • Swelling or bruising • Knee locking or giving out when you try to walk Diagnosis Your doctor will ask about the event’s happening and examine the knee to check the strength and movement of knee joint. X-rays, CT scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) may be ordered, as necessary.
Treatment • Rest - Rest your knee to help decrease swelling and allow the injury to heal. • Ice - Apply a bag of ice over a thin towel to the injured area for 20 minutes every hour. Do not put ice directly against the skin. • Compression - Apply an elastic bandage or wrap to control swelling and also keep the knee from moving too much while it heals. • Elevation - Raise the injured knee slightly above the level of the heart to reduce swelling and pain. • Protect - Protect the knee from further injury using a knee brace. • Analgesics (pain killers) - They are usually prescribed to ease your pain. • Surgery - This may be needed if other treatments do not work or if your sprain is severe. Surgery may include a knee arthroscopy to look inside your knee joint and repair damage.
Rehabilitation You may be asked to go for physiotherapy for knee muscle to get stronger, and to gain back normal movement function. For more severe sprains, therapy may include heat, ultrasound or other treatments.
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
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