Suffering a knee injury is tough. Beyond the pain, there are medical bills and questions about what comes next. This guide sheds light on the damage a car accident can do to ones knee. Get informed and tackle your case with confidence.

Key Points:

The knees are particularly susceptible during collisions, often sustaining impact in severe accidents.
While various knee injuries can result from car accidents, 12 are most commonly observed.
Every knee injury comes with its recovery timeline, associated costs, and specialized medical professionals for treatment.

The Vulnerability of Knees in Car Accidents

Car accidents often result in various injuries, with the knee being especially susceptible. The design of vehicles and human biomechanics make knees vulnerable during crashes. In frontal collisions, passengers might hit their knees on the dashboard or seats. Even with safety measures, knees can absorb much of the impact.

Knee injuries from car accidents range from sprains to fractures and torn ligaments. The sudden impact can twist the knee, damaging its inner structures. Direct hits can break the kneecap or cause deep bruises. These injuries can demand surgeries or extended physical therapy, highlighting the risks knees face in car incidents.

Knee Sprains and Strains

During a car accident, the abrupt force can jolt passengers, causing their knees to twist or collide with the vehicle’s interior. This sudden movement can overstretch or even tear the ligaments and muscles specific to knee sprains or strains. Addressing these injuries typically necessitates medical examinations, potential imaging like MRIs, and a course of physical therapy, all of which can accrue significant medical costs.

Description: Overstretching or minor tears of ligaments (sprains) or muscles/tendons (strains) around the knee.
Anatomy & Function: The knee joint is stabilized by ligaments and moved by muscles/tendons.
Common Causes: Overuse, abrupt movements, poor landing techniques, car accidents.
Risk Factors: Weak muscles, lack of flexibility, sudden increase in activity.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, limited movement.
Diagnosis: Physical examination, MRI.
Medical Specialists: Orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine physician.
Treatment Options: Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), physical therapy.
Prevention: Proper warm-up, strengthening exercises.
Recovery & Rehabilitation: Ranges from a few days to several weeks based on severity.
Long-term Implications: Chronic instability if not rehabilitated properly.
Statistics: Most common type of soft tissue injury.
Recent Research & Developments: Various physical therapy techniques for faster recovery.
Estimated Time to Recovery: 2-6 weeks.
Estimated Medical Cost: Varies, but minor cases may cost a few hundred dollars.
Interesting Facts: Many people continue daily activities with minor sprains without realizing they’re injured.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury

In a car accident, especially during frontal collisions, passengers can experience a rapid forward motion. This sudden movement can force the knee to twist or hyperextend, putting excessive strain on the ACL. Given the ACL’s role in stabilizing the knee, such abrupt and unnatural motions make it particularly vulnerable to injury in car accidents.

Description: Tear or sprain of the ACL.
Anatomy & Function: ACL stabilizes the knee, preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur.
Common Causes: Rapid change of direction, wrong landing from a jump, car accidents.
Risk Factors: High-demand sports, female gender.
Symptoms: Loud pop, immediate pain, swelling.
Diagnosis: Physical exam, MRI.
Medical Specialists: Orthopedic surgeon.
Treatment Options: Physical therapy or surgery.
Prevention: Neuromuscular training, proper sport techniques.
Recovery & Rehabilitation: Non-surgical: 2-6 months. Surgical: 6-12 months.
Long-term Implications: Increased risk of osteoarthritis.
Statistics: Female athletes have a 2-8 times higher risk.
Recent Research: Improved surgical methods and rehabilitation protocols.
Estimated Time to Recovery: 6-12 months (post-surgery).
Estimated Medical Cost: $5,000-$50,000.
Interesting Facts: High prevalence in sports like basketball, soccer, and football.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury

The Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) is one of the four major ligaments in the knee, primarily responsible for stabilizing the joint and preventing the tibia from moving too far backward. In car accidents, especially frontal collisions, a passenger’s knee can strike the dashboard, applying a direct force to the bent knee and pushing the tibia backward. This abrupt impact can lead to a PCL injury by overstretching or tearing the ligament.

Description: Injury to the PCL, often less common than ACL injuries.
Anatomy & Function: PCL prevents the tibia from moving backward too far.
Common Causes: Direct blow to the front of the knee, often seen in car accidents when the bent knee hits the dashboard.
Risk Factors: Motor vehicle accidents, sports.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, instability.
Diagnosis: Physical exam, MRI.
Medical Specialists: Orthopedic surgeon.
Treatment Options: Bracing, physical therapy, or surgery.
Prevention: Proper sport techniques, protective gear.
Recovery & Rehabilitation: Typically quicker than ACL injury recovery.
Long-term Implications: Possible instability if not treated.
Statistics: Accounts for less than 20% of knee ligament injuries.
Estimated Time to Recovery: Varies; 3-12 months.
Estimated Medical Cost: $5,000-$40,000.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury

The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) is a key ligament on the inner side of the knee, helping to stabilize the joint and prevent excessive inward movement. In car accidents, a direct blow to the outer part of the knee or a severe twisting motion can exert stress on the MCL. Such forces, common in side-impact collisions, can stretch or tear the MCL, leading to injury.

Description: Injury to the MCL on the inner part of the knee.
Common Causes: Direct blow to the outer knee, especially in car accidents if there’s lateral impact.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling on the inner knee.
Diagnosis: Physical exam, MRI.
Treatment Options: Bracing, physical therapy.
Recovery & Rehabilitation: Mild injuries: a few weeks. Severe injuries: several months.

Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury

The Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) is a crucial ligament on the outer side of the knee, working to stabilize the joint and prevent excessive outward movement. In car accidents, a direct blow to the inner part of the knee or a forceful twisting can strain the LCL. Such forces, especially prevalent in side-impact crashes, can potentially stretch or rupture the LCL.

Description: Injury to the LCL on the outer knee.
Common Causes: Direct blow to the inner knee, car accidents where there’s impact on the inside of the knee.
Treatment Options: Bracing, physical therapy.

Meniscus Tears

The meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion and aids in joint stability. Meniscus tears can occur when the knee is forcefully twisted or rotated, often combined with compression, as can happen in a car accident. Such traumatic events can cause the meniscus to tear, leading to pain, swelling, and limited knee movement.

Description: Tear in the meniscus, the knee’s cushioning cartilage.
Common Causes: Twisting or rotating the knee, car accidents due to abrupt force on the knee joint.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, popping sensation.
Diagnosis: MRI.
Treatment Options: Physical therapy, surgery.

Knee Fractures

A knee fracture refers to a break in any of the bones constituting or associated with the knee joint, such as the patella (kneecap), tibia, or femur. In car accidents, direct trauma from the collision or the impact of the knee against hard surfaces inside the vehicle, like the dashboard, can exert enough force to cause these bones to crack or shatter. The severity of the fracture often depends on the force of the accident and the angle of impact.

Description: Break in any of the knee bones.
Common Causes: High energy trauma, car accidents.
Symptoms: Intense pain, inability to walk, common in car accidents due to the force exerted on the knee.
Diagnosis: X-ray.
Treatment Options: Casting, surgery.

Dislocation (Knee)

A knee dislocation occurs when the bones that form the knee joint become misaligned or displaced, typically involving the femur (thighbone) and the tibia (shinbone) shifting out of position. In car accidents, the sudden force or direct trauma, especially in high-impact collisions, can jolt the knee with enough intensity to cause these bones to move out of their natural alignment. Such dislocations are serious, often damaging surrounding ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves.

Description: Bones of the knee are out of place.
Common Causes: Trauma, sports injuries, car accidents due to high-impact collisions.
Treatment Options: Reduction, surgery.

Patellar Tendon Tear

A patellar tendon tear involves a rupture of the tendon connecting the kneecap (patella) to the shinbone (tibia), which is essential for straightening the knee and aiding in walking. In car accidents, direct impact to the front of the knee or sudden, forceful leg movements, especially against the dashboard, can strain or even rupture this tendon. The injury can make it challenging to straighten the knee or walk, necessitating immediate medical attention.

Description: Tear in the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone.
Common Causes: Jumping, direct force, car accidents especially if the front of the knee suffers a direct blow.
Treatment Options: Surgery.

Bursitis (Knee)

Bursitis of the knee refers to the inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between tendons, bones, and skin around the joint. In car accidents, direct trauma or continuous pressure on the knee, such as from impact against the car’s interior, can cause or exacerbate the inflammation of the bursa, leading to pain and swelling. The injury can result in limited movement and tenderness in the affected area.

Description: Inflammation of the bursae, small fluid-filled sacs in the knee.
Common Causes: Overuse, kneeling, potential for car accidents if there’s a direct trauma to the front of the knee.
Treatment Options: Medication, aspiration.

Contusions or Deep Bruises

Contusions or deep bruises refer to damaged blood vessels under the skin, resulting in localized discoloration and tenderness without breaking the skin. In car accidents, the forceful impact or sudden jolt can cause the knee or other body parts to strike hard surfaces within the vehicle, like the dashboard or door. This direct trauma can lead to the development of these deep, often painful, bruises.

Description: Bruising of the knee tissues.
Common Causes: Direct blow.
Treatment Options: RICE.
Medical Specialists: Primary Care Physician (PCP), Orthopedic Surgeons, Physical Therapists
Estimated Cost: $100 to 3K depending upon the type of care chosen, and the severity.

Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome is a dangerous condition where increased pressure within one of the body’s muscle compartments restricts blood flow, potentially damaging muscles and nerves. In car accidents, blunt trauma or fractures can lead to swelling or bleeding within these compartments, especially in the legs. If not treated promptly, this can result in permanent muscle or nerve damage and can even become life-threatening.

Description: Increased pressure inside the muscle compartment, can be a result of trauma such as that from a car accident.
Symptoms: Severe pain, tightness.
Diagnosis: Pressure measurements.
Treatment Options: Surgery.
Estimated Cost to Treat: 10K – 50K