Broken knee bones Turi tāwhatiwhati
Your knee joint is made up of the end of your thigh bone (the femur), the top of your tibia (one of the bones of your lower leg) and your kneecap (the patella). You can break any of these bones.
Causes of broken knee bones
Broken knee bones can be caused by:
- falling from a certain height and landing on your legs
- getting hit with force, such as a car accident
- high-impact activities or sports such as skiing or parachuting.
Symptoms of broken knee bones
Symptoms of broken knee bones include:
- severe pain in your knee area
- swelling and bruising around the knee
- difficulty moving or bending your knee
- your knee looking or feeling out of shape.
Complications of broken knee bones
Most knee fractures involve the surface of the joint (articular cartilage), which needs to be repaired carefully. Sometimes, people who have had a knee fracture go on to develop arthritis.
You may need surgery to preserve the joint or replace it.
Diagnosing broken knee bones
Your healthcare provider or physiotherapist can diagnose broken knee bones by listening to what happened and examining your knee. Depending on your injury and the symptoms, you may need an x-ray.
Self care for broken knee bones
There are some things you can do to help your recovery, whether or not you are having surgery.
- If you smoke, stop smoking. Continuing to smoke will slow down how quickly you heal.
- Depending on what job you do, you are likely going to need some time off work. This depends on the treatment you need, the work you do and what your healthcare provider recommends.
- Make sure to keep your cast (if you have one) clean, dry and covered.
- Take regular pain relief. The best pain relief is paracetamol. Take 2 tablets every 4 hours, but no more than 8 tablets in 24 hours. If you are still in a lot of pain, contact your healthcare provider.
Contact your healthcare provider if you are worried about anything after you go home.
Treating broken knee bones
If the bones are in a good (natural) position, you may not need surgery. You will need to have a brace or a cast to support your knee and minimise movement to the area while it heals. You will need crutches to move around.
You will need an operation to move the bones into the right position and hold them there if your break:
- is not in a good (natural) position
- is unstable
- involves the joint surface.
If you need surgery, it will be done by a bone surgeon (orthopaedic specialist). They will explain the type of surgery you need and any risks or possible complications. This surgery will be done in a hospital under a general anaesthetic (you will be asleep).
Driving with a cast
Your ability to drive safely may be affected by:
- a broken bone
- surgery
- an injury that requires you to wear a cast or moonboot, such as an Achilles tendon rupture.
You may be advised to stop driving until your injury has healed. A healthcare provider can tell you if you are safe to drive.
Getting around
If you are advised not to drive, you will need to use another form of transport, such as:
- public transport
- taxis
- whānau and friends.
Sometimes, adapted controls in a car or hiring a modified vehicle might allow you to continue driving while you are rehabilitating.
Modifications to vehicles may include:
- hand controls for braking and accelerating
- left foot accelerators
- steering and secondary control aids
If your injury is the result of an accident, talk to ACC about whether they can fund the hire of a modified vehicle or temporary vehicle adaptations.
Travel and transport — ACCexternal link
Your insurance company may also fund the hiring of a modified vehicle. You can also hire a modified vehicle.
If your healthcare provider thinks your driving is impaired, and you continue to drive, the Land Transport Act says they have to tell the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Talk to your insurance company before you start driving again. They might not cover you while you are wearing a cast or splint.
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is a government agency that helps pay for treatment if you are injured in an accident.
The ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all residents and visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand. This means if you are hurt in an accident, ACC can help no matter who caused the accident.
If you have an accident and need emergency care in a hospital, it will be covered by ACC.
ACC usually pays some of the other medical costs if you have an accident, like surgery, physiotherapy and medicines. ACC may also be able to cover some loss of earnings resulting from an accident.
I'm injured — The Accident Compensation Corporation