Knee Injury

Fall cases commonly result in very serious injuries to the knee. As a knee injury lawyer I regularly meet clients who have suffered knee injuries from slips on wet surfaces, trips on drop-offs, broken and irregular sidewalks, stairs and other tripping hazards, as well as steps with missing or inadequate handrails. These hazards are often made worse by inadequate lighting which contributes to further concealing these dangers. Serious knee injuries occur when clients trip or fall on such hazards and land with full force on their knee.

In the least severe cases, injuries may involve damage to the medial meniscus or the ligaments, including the medial collateral ligament or the anterior cruciate ligament. If surgery is required, it is commonly arthroscopic surgery done with minor incisions using cannulas to view and repair the damage. This process minimizes the invasive nature of the surgery and substantially shortens the recovery period. Following physical therapy and rehabilitation, generally a full recovery should be anticipated. These surgeries have grown to become quite common and are performed on even some of the youngest athletes.

The more significant knee injuries include fracture of the patella and damage to the patellar tendon. Treatment of patella fractures often requires surgery requiring an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the patella and surrounding structures using screws, plates, wires and other devices. Post surgery treatment commonly includes extensive therapy, gait training, pain management, as well as Supartz and steroid injections. Some client's injuries become more complicated if there are issues with wound healing, requiring Vac-Pac and hyperbaric treatments to achieve adequate wound closure.

While some clients who undergo ORIF surgery are able to achieve full recovery, all too often, they are left with limited range of motion of the knee, numbness, paresthesia, pain, loss of strength and difficulty walking, especially up and down stairs. These injuries frequently require a long period of post surgical treatment and recovery.

They certainly test one's stamina and endurance during treatment and recovery. Falls involving these types of wounds require a prompt and adequate scene investigation by a professional engineer possessing knowledge of the codes and safety issues which must be documented. Photographs of the defect must be promptly obtained in order to document the defect and the surrounding area.

Knee injuries can be a rough time for everyone involved, please do not take them lightly and get help when it's needed.