Symptoms | Patella fracture

Symptoms

A patella fracture causes pain above the patella. Typically, the lower leg cannot be actively stretched or the knee joint cannot be kept stretched because the anterior thigh muscles (Musculus quadriceps femoris) can transmit the force via the patella to the lower leg. The fracture of the kneecap results in a haematoma.

The bruise appears under the skin as a “bruise”. The bleeding into the knee joint shows up as a knee joint effusion (intra-articular effusion, bloody effusion = haemarthros). Since it is often caused by falls on the kneecap, abrasions are often found in this area.

• The patella is embedded in the tendon of the thigh muscles, which is responsible for stretching the leg in the knee joint. The function of this muscle group (Musculus quadriceps femoris) is now no longer fully functional. As a result, the patient can no longer actively stretch the leg or keep it stretched without outside help.
• Some patients also suffer from so-called “crepitations”, i.e. crackling noises when the joint is moved.

  This is due to the fact that small pieces of bone are often detached from the bone during a kneecap fracture. These pieces then move freely in the joint and rub against other structures within the joint during certain movements, which causes this noise.

• Depending on the cause of the kneecap fracture, there are other accompanying symptoms such as abrasions on the knee or legs or even broken bones.

A fracture of the kneecap (patella fracture) causes typical symptoms:

• Classically, there is massive pain directly after the triggering violent impact. These are most clearly felt at the front of the knee joint and above the kneecap.

  Under the effect of pressure and strain, they intensify.

• The fracture of the kneecap and sometimes surrounding structures causes bleeding into the joint. This can be noticed in two ways: If they are relatively superficial, a bruise (hematoma) becomes visible. If it bleeds into the joint, there is a more or less pronounced swelling of the knee joint as a result of the joint effusion (haemarthros).
• If they are relatively superficial, a bruise (hematoma) becomes visible.
• If it bleeds into the joint, there is a more or less pronounced swelling of the knee joint as a result of the joint effusion (haemarthrosis)
• If they are relatively superficial, a bruise (hematoma) becomes visible.
• If it bleeds into the joint, there is a more or less pronounced swelling of the knee joint as a result of the joint effusion (haemarthrosis)