Knee Pain
Patella Fracture
A patellar fracture is a break in the patella, or kneecap, the small bone that sits at the front of your knee. Because the patella acts as a shield for your knee joint, it is vulnerable to fracture if you fall directly onto your knee or hit it against the dashboard in a vehicle collision. A patellar fracture is a serious injury that can make it difficult or even impossible to straighten your knee or walk.
Some simple patellar fractures can be treated by wearing a cast or splint until the bone heals. In most patellar fractures, however, the pieces of bone move out of place when the injury occurs. For these more complicated fractures, surgery is needed to restore and stabilize the kneecap and allow for the return of function.
Patella fractures are injuries often associated with a blow to the knee. Common causes include:
Falling directly on the knee, especially on a hard surface such as concrete
Sports where the knee may be directly hit by a ball, bat or stick
Car accidents where the knee hits the dashboard
Gunshot wounds
Sudden contractions (pulling) of the quadriceps muscle that causes the tendon to pull on the kneecap and break it apart
The symptoms of a patella fracture may include:
Pain around the kneecap or in the knee
Bruising
Swelling, which can be severe, even with relatively minor kneecap fractures
Inability to bend or straighten the knee or to hold the leg out straight
Inability to bear weight, stand or walk
Deformed appearance of the knee, especially with severe fractures
Bone protruding from the skin of the knee in the case of an open patellar fracture
If you have these symptoms after hitting or injuring your knee or leg, call your doctor or visit an urgent care clinic for an examination.
Your doctor may use some of the following techniques to determine if you have fractured your patella:
History: The doctor will ask you about any recent trauma, such as sports injuries, automobile accidents or falls.
Physical examination: The doctor will examine the knee and check for deformity that can be felt through the skin such as gaps or edges of bone.
The doctor may put mild pressure on the kneecap, and may bend or straighten the leg to see if those actions cause or increase pain or reveal a deformity.
X-rays help the doctor identify a fracture and see if there are fragments.
Nonsurgical treatment is typically recommended for more stable patellar fractures or less severe breaks and may include:
A cast or splint to hold the leg in place while the bone heals
Preventing or reducing weight-bearing
Pain medications (opioid pain medication may be appropriate for the first few days after a severe kneecap fracture, followed by non-opioid options)
Physical therapy and walking aids to help you regain strength and independence.
Surgical treatment is typically recommended for more severe kneecap fractures. Surgical repairs may:
Use screws, pins and wires to hold larger pieces of patella together
Remove fragments of bone that are too small to reattach. In very severe comminuted fractures, removal of part or all of the kneecap may be necessary, but the surgeon will attempt to preserve and reattach as much of the kneecap as possible.
Address damage to the patellar ligament and other structures in the knee joint associated with the fracture (for example, in the case of an open fracture where bone pieces have damaged the skin and soft tissue)
The knee is a complex joint that bears weight. Even after treatment, you may experience continued pain and reduced range of motion. Post-traumatic arthritis (thinning of cartilage due to trauma) of the knee is a common complication of patella fractures and other knee injuries.
After weeks or months of immobilization with a cast or splint, there may be muscle loss (atrophy) in the leg. Physical therapy can help minimize atrophy and prevent it from becoming permanent, as well as recover muscle strength, flexibility and range of motion. Physical therapy and occupational therapy may also be recommended if you had surgery to repair the kneecap.
Depending on your age and health, it takes about three to six months to recover from a broken kneecap, but very severe patellar injuries may take longer.
For a time, you may be advised to avoid climbing stairs, squatting, kneeling or other activities that place strain on the knee joint. In most cases, you should still be able to walk with a fractured kneecap while the knee is immobilized and healing. Your care team will recommend exercises and weight-bearing restrictions appropriate for each stage of recovery.
Persistent pain or severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis in the knee can call for continued reassessment and further surgery, including knee replacement.
How using the HeatPulse
and Thermosleeve can help
The Thermosleeve and HeatPulse are great tools for hot and cold therapy to help you recover from your surgery.
Thermosleeve combines cold with compression for greater effectiveness in relieving pain and inflammation
HeatPulse combines heat and massage to boost blood flow to your knee, encouraging healing and improving range of motion
Swelling after knee surgery can last for three to six months after surgery. To help reduce inflammation and pain, you can use the Thermosleeve three to four times a day for about 10-20 minutes during the first few days after surgery.
After the initial swelling has gone down, you can alternate between the Thermosleeve and the HeatPulse to relax the muscles and ease stiffness.
The Thermosleeve and HeatPulse are great tools for hot and cold therapy to help you recover from your surgery.
Thermosleeve combines cold with compression for greater effectiveness in relieving pain and inflammation
HeatPulse combines heat and massage to boost blood flow to your knee, encouraging healing and improving range of motion
Swelling after knee surgery can last for three to six months after surgery. To help reduce inflammation and pain, you can use the Thermosleeve three to four times a day for about 10-20 minutes during the first few days after surgery.
After the initial swelling has gone down, you can alternate between the Thermosleeve and the HeatPulse to relax the muscles and ease stiffness.
Hear from customers
who have experienced relief
