Knee injuries

Knee pain is a common health problem that affects people of all ages. Knee pain is often the result of an injury. It can be caused by repetitive activity at work or as a result of a traumatic incident, such as a fall. Many different types of activities at work can lead to a serious knee injury. If you have injured your knee at work, you have the right to be compensated for the damages, such as medical expenses, surgery, medical equipment, rehabilitation or physical therapy and disability. Knee injuries can be painful and expensive to treat. They could also potentially end their career.

Understanding of knee injuries

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), in 2010, there were about 10.4 million patient visits to doctors’ offices due to knee injuries, such as fractures, dislocations, sprains and ligament tears. A knee injury is one of the most common reasons that people see their doctors.

Understanding the anatomy of the knee and how its different components work will give a victim a better perspective of their knee injury. The knee is a complex joint with many parts. This makes him vulnerable to a variety of injuries and ailments. The knee is the largest joint in the body and consists of four main components: bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.

There are three bones that join to form a knee joint: the thigh bone or femur, the tibia and the kneecap. The ends of these three bones are covered in joint cartilage, a slippery substance that keeps the bones from sliding smoothly through each other while bending or stretching your leg. Two wedge-shaped pieces of meniscus cartilage act as shock absorbers between the femur and the tibia. The meniscus is difficult and rubbery cushion to cushion and stabilize the knee joint.

The ligaments are strong as ropes that hold the bones and help stabilize the knee. Your knee joint has four ligaments. Also, there are tendons that connect the muscles to the bones. The quadriceps tendon connects the muscle in the front of the thigh of the patella and the patellar tendon sections of the patella to the tibia.

Types of knee injuries

The knee joint, although complex in design, is still a delicate mechanism and one that is susceptible to injury. Frequently treated knee injuries include fractures around the knee, dislocation, sprains, strains and soft tissue injuries. In most cases, the injuries involve more than one component of the knee. The following are some of the most common types of knee injuries.

Fractures: The most common bone that breaks at the knee joint is the kneecap. The ends of the femur and the tibia where they meet to form the knee joint can also be broken. Many fractures of the knee joint are caused by traumatic events, such as accidents due to slips and falls or falls and falls, falls from height and traffic accidents. Broken bones often take a long time to heal completely. Depending on the nature and extent of the rupture, victims of knee injuries may have to undergo prolonged rehabilitation including physical therapy, which could be costly. Some fractures can result in permanent injury or disability, which prevents the victim from returning to work. In some cases, the victim can never regain strength,

Dislocation : A dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee slide out of place, either partially or completely. For example, the femur and the tibia may be forced out of alignment and the kneecap may also slip out of place. Dislocations can be caused by traumas resulting from falls, traffic accidents or high impact sports, etc.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) : The anterior cruciate ligament or ACL is often injured during sports such as football, soccer and basketball. The change of direction can quickly cause the ACL to break. Approximately half of all ACL injuries occur with damage to other components in the knee, such as the meniscus. ACL injuries can also occur as a result of traumatic events, such as a fall. The posterior cruciate ligament may be injured by a blow to the front of the knee when the joint bends. This could happen in traffic accidents and incidents related to contact sports.

Meniscus injuries : Meniscus ruptures are among the most common injuries of the knee. Sudden meniscus tears often occur during sports practice. A squat or twisting knee involvement can cause a tear. Older people are more likely to have a degenerative meniscal tear. Since the cartilage weakens and wears through time, aged or worn tissue is more prone to tears. Even a strange twist of the knee when getting up from a chair may be enough to cause a meniscal tear.

Tendon tears : The quadriceps and tendons of the kneecap may be stretched and broken as a result of falls, direct force to the front of the knee, or landing awkwardly in a jump.

Bursitis : A bursa is a sac filled with fluid that functions as a sliding surface to reduce friction between the tissues of the body in motion. There are three main synovial bags in the knee. When a bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is known as bursitis. This is commonly caused by tissue trauma or distension. It could also be caused by infections.

Symptoms of knee injuries

Pain and swelling with difficulty in knee flexion is one of the most common symptoms of knee injury. If inflammation occurs immediately, this may mean that you have suffered a fracture or torn ligaments. If the inflammation increases over a period of time, meniscus or cartilage lesions may be the cause. Symptoms that point to knee injuries include a feeling of instability of the knee or bursting or rubbing in the knee.

«Blocking» is the term used when the knee joint refuses to straighten out completely. This is often due to torn cartilage. Lameness or lack of mobility is another symptom of the knee injury. You should seek medical attention immediately if there is almost immediate swelling in the knee, if the bones appear deformed, if you are unable to bear the weight, if the pain is intolerable or if there is loss of sensation below the site of the injury .

The causes of knee injuries

A series of traumatic events leaves us vulnerable to knee injuries:

Traffic accidents : A knee injury can occur during a car accident if the outside of the knee hits the inside of the vehicle. The impact between the knee and the inside of a car (door, window or dashboard, etc.) is usually a quick and hard attack. Knee injuries in traffic accidents could also occur due to severe twisting or hyperextension of the leg. Traffic accidents can result in ligaments or meniscus tears, soft tissue injuries, fractures and dislocations. These injuries can result in permanent knee problems that require surgery and / or intense rehabilitation therapy.

Slip and fall accidents and trips and falls : What seems to be a slip-and-simple fall or slip and fall can lead to a painful knee injury. This type of injury can affect the ligaments, tendons or fluid-filled bags (bags), located around the knee joint. It can also have an impact on the bones, cartilage and ligaments that make up this complex joint. If you stumble and fall awkwardly, you may land on the knee and seriously injure.

Falls from elevations : Workers, like construction workers, face an increased risk of falling from higher elevations. Among other injuries, workers may suffer significant knee fractures that could prevent them from returning to work for a long period of time.

Work accidents : Knee injury can also be caused by repetitive efforts at work involving activities such as lifting, loading or bending. These types of injuries are usually covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Compensation is available for medical expenses, a portion of lost wages and rehabilitation costs.

Treatment for knee injuries

Almost all knee injuries require more than one visit to the doctor. If surgery is not necessary then doctors recommend rest, ice, compression and elevation. Other recommendations may include strengthening exercises and physical therapy. If rest and therapy fail, surgery may be recommended. Each knee injury is different depending on the nature, extent and location of the injury.

Treatment options also depend on the age and activity level of the victim. For example, an ACL injury would require surgery in a young athlete or a construction worker, but it can be treated non-surgically with physical therapy in an 80-year-old person who is not very active. Many knee injuries can also be treated surgically with an arthroscope, where a camera is used and small punctures are made in the knee to insert instruments.

Tips for the prevention of knee injuries

There are several safety measures we can take to prevent knee injuries:

• Always the seatbelt when you are in a car.
• Do not carry objects that are too heavy.
• Use a bench and do not stand on chairs or other unstable objects.
• Before you are involved in a sports activity, be sure to stretch and warm up the muscles. Wear knee pads to prevent injuries.
• Use the technique or the correct positions when performing the work so that you do not put tension on your muscles.
• Use equipment that is appropriate to your size, strength and ability. Avoid repetitive movements that can cause injuries.
• If you think that certain activities in your workplace are causing pain or repeated inflammation, call your human resources department for information on other ways to do your job or to talk about the use of different equipment.

Compensation for injured victims

If you have suffered a knee injury as a result of a traumatic event, it is important to understand your rights and legal options. For example, if you have suffered a knee injury in a car accident, you can claim compensation from the insurance company of the guilty driver. If you have suffered a knee injury in a slip and fall accident or your trip and fall, the negligent property owner or administrator may be held liable. If you have suffered knee injuries at work, you can apply for workers’ compensation benefits from your employer. In addition, a third party claim may be filed for significant monetary damages against a party other than the employer that caused or contributed to the accident.

The damages that can be alleged by victims of knee injuries include:

• Medical expenses: All expenses related to emergency medical care, including transportation, emergency room costs, hospitalization, surgeries, cost of medications, orthopedic devices and other medical equipment.
• lost wages: Work time and loss of income during the recovery process.
• Rehabilitation: Knee injuries often require rehabilitation such as physical therapy. Most medical insurance policies do not cover such treatment completely. The patient often ends up paying out of pocket.
• Pain and suffering past and future: This refers to the physical pain and emotional suffering experienced by the victim as a result of the knee injury.
• Permanent injuries: Compensation for injuries that occur in permanent conditions, such as lack of mobility, strength or chronic pain.
• Disability: This also refers to permanent conditions, such as an inability to walk or be confined to a wheelchair as a result of a knee injury.
• Loss of future income: If an individual is unable to return to work due to a debilitating knee injury, he or she is entitled to receive compensation for future lost earnings as well.

Contact a knee injury lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered serious knee injuries, New York personal injury lawyers with experience in Kenneth A. Wilhelm’s legal office can help you better understand your rights and legal options. Please contact us toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can even come to you. There are no lawyer quotas unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 states of the United States, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.

Other free phone numbers for us are:

1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, or 1-800-LAS-LEYES

Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com