A patella fracture is also called a broken kneecap.
It’s usually resulting from a fall or other force that directly impacts the knee.
The kneecap is one of three bones that make up theknee joint.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of patella fractures.
It also covers how they are treated and what to expect during recovery.
Patella Fracture Symptoms
Patella fractures can cause severe pain and difficulty walking.
When the muscle pulls forcefully in this manner, the patella can fracture.
There are certain situations when the kneecap may fracture even with minor injuries.
Sometimes these injuries arepathologic fracturesbone fractures that occur as a result of weak bone.
Pathologic fractures can be caused byosteoporosis(thin bone), bone infection, or tumors.
Treatment
Patella fractures should be seen in the emergency room.
Specifically, healthcare providers will test whether the patient can perform a straight leg raise.
A straight leg raise test is done by having the patient lie flat on a bed.
This tests the function of the quadriceps muscle and its attachment to the shin bone (tibia).
One of the common symptoms of a patella fracture isknee swelling.
The swelling is triggered by bleeding from the fractured bone ends into the knee joint.
Patients with a large amount of blood in the knee may benefit from draining the blood for pain relief.
Immobilizing the knee with a knee brace will also help minimize discomfort.
They may recommend physical therapy and occupational therapy.
The most common complication of patella fracture surgery is stiffness of the knee.
Another complication is that the metal implants can become painful over timeespecially when kneeling.
It is not uncommon for a second procedure to be needed to remove the metal implants.
This procedure is usually done at least a year after the initial surgery.
If kneecap arthritis becomes severe, some people may ultimately need aknee replacementor apartial knee replacementof the kneecap.
After your patellar fracture repair, exercise options will vary depending on your stage of recovery.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
OrthoInfo.Patellar (kneecap) fractures.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Kneecap fractures (patella fractures).
MedlinePlus.Broken kneecap - aftercare.
