How to treat a bruised knee: Treatment and healing time

Most knee bruises are mild and heal on their own, but some can be severe. Steps that can support healing include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). However, some bruises may need medical attention.

This article explores how bruises form, how to treat them, and how to tell if a bruise could be a sign of a more severe injury, such as a fracture.

A bruise or contusion forms when small blood vessels under the skin break, but the skin remains intact. Blood leaks out of these broken capillaries into the surrounding soft tissues, which causes discoloration.

There are three types of bruises:

• subcutaneous, which occur just under the skin’s surface
• intramuscular, occurring within the underlying muscle
• bone bruises, which are an injury to the bone

A bone bruise is typically the most painful type of bruise. Doctors can only detect these using magnetic resonance imaging, as they are not easily visible on X-rays.

A bruise on the knee may occur because of damage to the skin, tendons, ligaments, or the bone of the knee cap. For example, a knee injury may cause a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, in addition to bruising.

A bruise on the knee may appear black, blue, or purple on lighter skin, or dark purple or brown on darker skin. Bruises may change color as they heal, turning yellow or green.

A knee bruise may also trigger symptoms such as:

• pain and tenderness
• swelling
• stiffness
• weakness
• a lump, or hematoma, caused by blood pooling in the area

If there is a bone bruise, the knee may be particularly stiff, swollen, and take longer to heal. However, with no other symptoms, most bruises are not serious and typically heal on their own.

Bruises to the knee generally occur from direct and blows to the body involving something blunt. This may occur due to a fall or when a person bangs their knee into something hard.

Bruising can also develop alongside other types of injury, such as fractures, broken bones, torn tendons, or dislocated joints.

Older adults are more likely to bruise than younger adults. Additionally, people may bruise more easily than others.

Bruises without any injury

Sometimes, people develop bruises and forget how they occurred. However, some bruise-like markings on the skin that do not result from an injury may be due to blood spots, also known as purpura.

Purpura is not the same as bruising, although they look similar. This symptom can occur due to a range of conditions, including:

• medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin or warfarin
• malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies
• inflammatory conditions, such as lupus
• inflamed blood vessels, or vasculitis
• a bleeding or clotting disorder, such as hemophilia
• liver disease, such a cirrhosis
• infections that cause toxins to build up in the blood, such as sepsis
• some types of cancer, such as leukemia

If a person notices red or purple patches under the skin that they cannot explain, it is best to speak with a doctor.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) may help reduce symptoms and aid healing.

• Rest: rest the knee joint
• Ice: cool the area with a compress or ice pack wrapped in a towel for 20 minutes at a time, several times per day
• Compression: lightly wrap the knee in a soft bandage
• Elevation: Raise the knee above the level of the heart, if possible, to prevent blood from pooling

Do not apply ice directly to the skin, or try to drain the bruise of blood using a needle. If there is a large lump that does not decrease in size after several days, a doctor may need to drain it.

A bruised knee will usually heal within around 2–4 weeks. A bone bruise may take as long as 1–2 months or longer if the bruise is large.

Sometimes, a direct blow to the knee causes a sprain or a kneecap fracture. It may be difficult to tell the difference between these injuries.

A kneecap or patella fracture can cause:

• pain on and around the kneecap
• pain when moving the knee in any direction
• swelling
• difficulty extending the leg
• a deformed appearance due to broken pieces of bone

If a person has a sprain or kneecap fracture, severe pain, bruising, or swelling will set in within 30 minutes of the injury. A doctor can determine if someone has a fracture with an X-ray.

Treatment for a fractured kneecap may involve surgery to repair the broken bones or replacing all or part of the kneecap.

A person should speak with a doctor if:

• a knee bruise does not improve within 2–4 weeks
• they develop a large hematoma on the knee that does not decrease in size after a few days
• their knee shows signs of a fracture or more serious injury, such as severe pain or swelling
• they develop red or purple or discolored patches that are not due to an injury
• the knee shows signs of infection, such as swelling, pus, and warmth

A person should seek emergency medical care if they experience extremely painful swelling in the muscles in the foot, leg, buttocks, or arms.

This may be the result of compartment syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires immediate treatment.

A bruised knee is typically a minor injury that heals on its own in a few weeks. A bone bruise may cause more pain and take longer to heal.

The RICE approach may help relieve symptoms and promote healing in knee injuries. However, if there is severe pain and swelling, or the bruise is not due to an injury, a person should speak with a doctor.

Recovery, Causes, Treatment & More

A contusion is the medical term for bruise. It’s the result of a damaged blood vessel or capillary leaking blood into the area surrounding an injury.

If you have an injury to your knee that damages the muscle or skin tissue, it’s usually referred to as a soft tissue contusion.

A bone contusion, or bone bruise, to your knee is more severe, but it features many of the same symptoms as a soft tissue contusion. A bone bruise occurs as a result of an injury to the surface of the bone beneath the soft tissue.

A knee contusion is a fairly common occurrence. It’s also called a patellar contusion. Patella is the medical term for kneecap.

Symptoms, treatment, and recovery depend on the how severe the injury is.

Knee contusions are the result of heavy impact to the knee, usually from a blow or fall that damages the soft tissues (such as the blood vessels) or bone.

Following impact, blood spills into the tendons, tissue, and muscles in your knee. A knee contusion can also be accompanied by scrapes and skin tears.

Symptoms of a soft tissue knee contusion include:

• formation of a small bump
• skin turning red, blue, or black
• pain when pressure is applied

If you have a bone contusion to your knee, you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• pain in your knee when extending your leg
• swelling, stiffness, or tenderness
• pain that’s more severe than a normal bruise and lasting longer

If swelling doesn’t reduce or worsens, it may be a sign of a more severe bone bruise. Your doctor may test to determine if you also have a fracture or break in your knee.

Knee contusions are treated differently based on how severe they are. The most common treatment method for knee contusions is the RICE protocol. It stands for:

• Rest. Following an injury, minimize use of the affected area as much as possible.
• Ice. A cold compress can reduce the swelling. Your doctor may recommend icing your knee for 15 to 20 minutes several times per day. To prevent ice burn or frostbite, wrap the cold compress in a towel or cloth to prevent your skin from coming into direct contact with the ice.
• Compress. To further reduce swelling, compress your knee with a wrap or elastic bandage. Do not wrap it too tightly, as it may inhibit circulation.
• Elevate. Elevating your knee above your heart can drain excess blood from the affected area. It may also reduce pain and throbbing.

For minor knee contusions, your doctor may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).

If you have a severe bone bruise on your knee, your doctor may recommend wearing a brace to keep the affected area still during healing.

Recovery time depends on the extent of the injury. A minor knee contusion can heal in as little as a few days. A bone bruise may take several weeks or months to heal before you can return to normal activities.

If you experience trauma to your knee that results in pain, swelling, and skin discoloration, you may have a knee contusion. This injury typically heals on its own and doesn’t require surgery.

If symptoms persist or worsen, visit your doctor. They can determine if the injury is a fracture or break and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Contusion of the knee joint – symptoms, causes, treatment

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A closed traumatic injury received under the influence of mechanical force without violating the integrity of the joint structures is called a knee bruise. In mild cases, the bruise resolves on its own after 7-10 days, in severe cases, intraarticular elements suffer against the background of a reactive inflammatory process, hematoma formation, and hemarthrosis. Typical for any injury symptoms: swelling, bruising, pain at rest, aggravated by trying to bend or straighten the limb.

CMRT specialist tells

Kuchenkov A.V.

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Surgeon • Phlebologist • Sports doctor • 24 years of experience

Publication date: May 11, 2021

Verification date: January 09, 2023

All facts have been verified by a physician.

Contents of the article

Causes of a bruised knee

Symptoms of a bruised knee

How to diagnose a bruised knee

Which doctor to contact

Charin Yury Konstantinovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Vertebrologist
experience 34 years

Dikhnich Oleg Anatolyevich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 31 years

Gaiduk Alexander Alexandrovich

Orthopedist • Physical therapy doctor • Physiotherapist
experience 30 years

Bodan Stanislav Mikhailovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 27 years

Kuchenkov Alexander Viktorovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Surgeon • Phlebologist • Sports doctor
experience 24 years

Samarin Oleg Vladimirovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Vertebrologist
experience 24 years

Tkachenko Maxim Viktorovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 20 years

Bulatsky Sergey Olegovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 16 years

Pivkovsky Dmitry Igorevich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 12 years

Stepanov Vladimir Vladimirovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Vertebrologist
experience 10 years

Teleev Marat Sultanbekovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist • Sports doctor
experience 10 years

Shtanko Vladislav Anatolyevich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 9 years

Atamuradov Toyly Atamuradovich

Orthopedist • Sports doctor • Surgeon
experience 8 years

Akhmedov Kazali Muradovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 6 years

Orazmyradov Khalnazar Ataballyevich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 5 years

Sattorov Abboskhon Nodirovich

Orthopedist • Traumatologist
experience 4 years

How to treat a bruised knee

Rehabilitation after knee injury

Consequences

Prevention

Treatment and rehabilitation after a knee injury in CMRT clinics

Other related articles:

Hoff’s disease of the knee

Hoff’s disease or lipoarthritis – transformation of the adipose tissue of the joint due to a non-infectious chronic inflammatory process. It is characterized by the replacement of adipose tissue with fibrous growths, the loss of buffer qualities and joint mobility, and the occurrence of pain. Pathology is diagnosed on the basis of the clinical picture, MRI results. Treatment includes rest, immobilization, medical and surgical therapy.

Runner’s knee

Pain of varying intensity in the patella, associated with increased stress on the knee joint, in medical terminology is called patellofemoral syndrome, better known as “runner’s knee”. Being a common pathology among amateur and professional athletes, it requires an integrated approach to orthopedic treatment and the use of modern rehabilitation technologies.

Dislocation of the patella

Patellar luxation is the displacement of the patella relative to other structures of the joint. Accompanied by edema, deformity and impaired function of the lower limb. The most common cause is an injury to the knee joint with a strong blow or a fall on the knee. Traumatologists-orthopedists provide medical assistance to the victim with a knee injury.

Knee ligament rupture

Knee ligament rupture is the second most common injury after meniscal injury. The pathological condition is accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the vessels, the ingress of blood into the joint. There are three stages – from mild to complete rupture, characterized by local pain, swelling of varying degrees and the onset of disability in severe cases.

How is an MRI done on the knee?

The knee is one of the most injured joints at any age. With persistent pain or swelling, an MRI of the knee joints is done for adults and children to diagnose damage. An accurate method helps to draw up a treatment plan, the need for surgical intervention, and track the dynamics of the therapy carried out.

Rehabilitation after knee arthroplasty

Knee arthroplasty is a surgical operation during which the pathologically altered articular surfaces of the femur and tibia are replaced with artificial implants.

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Moskaleva V.V.

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first aid, methods of treatment, types, reasons, what to do

The knee joint is one of the largest and most complex in the human body. At the same time, this is a very fragile joint, which, in terms of the frequency of injuries, is comparable only to the ankle joint. This is due to the high stress that the knee bears when walking, cycling and skiing or playing football, as it carries the weight of the entire body as it moves. A knee injury is the most common reason people see a doctor. In case of minor injuries, conservative treatment is carried out, however, there are injuries when a surgical operation is necessary for recovery, followed by rehabilitation.

Content:

1. Causes of knee injuries
2. What are knee injuries: the most common cases
   1. knee fracture
   2. Dislocation of the knee
   3. Knee injury
   4. meniscus injury
   5. tendon rupture
   6. Knee sprain
   7. Tendinitis
3. Risk Factors Leading to Knee Injury
4. First aid for knee injuries
5. Treatment of knee injuries
6. Exercises to develop the knee joint after injury

Causes of knee injuries

Most often, athletes have knee injuries, but the knee joint can be easily damaged even in everyday life. The main causes of domestic injuries are:

• fall from a height;
• sharp extension and flexion of the knee;
• high jump landing on a straight leg;
• hit with a hard object in the knee joint;
• excessive twisting of the lower leg and thigh in opposite directions.

In addition, knee injury can occur in people who suffer from diseases that weaken the knee joint: arthrosis and arthritis, osteomyelitis, osteoporosis, bone inflammation caused by impaired collagen synthesis, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and other pathologies.

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What are knee injuries: the most common cases

Athletes and people whose work is associated with increased physical exertion should be aware of what knee injuries can be. The most common injuries are: contusion, dislocation, sprain and rupture of the medial or lateral ligament, fractures of the patella and bones (external and internal), violation of the integrity of the meniscus.

Important!

Any damage to the knee joint causes similar pain, therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary to contact a traumatologist, who, using X-ray examination or CT, will accurately determine what kind of injury the patient has experienced.

Fractured Knee

Any bone in the knee joint can break in a fall, car accident, or impact with a hard object, but the kneecap is usually fractured. It is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, hemorrhage into the joint cavity due to rupture of blood vessels, and the inability to raise a straight leg. The diagnosis is confirmed by X-ray examination. In case of a fracture with a displacement of the bone, surgical intervention is indicated, during which the fragments are pulled together and connected to each other using plates and screws. If the fragments are in an anatomical position, it is recommended to wear an orthopedic fixator that holds the joint in the desired position, and to perform physiotherapy.

Dislocation of the knee

Dislocation of the knee is a serious injury in which one or more bones are displaced from their anatomical position. Causes include a sudden change of direction during a fall, an accident, a sharp knee rotation due to mechanical force. In many cases, the dislocation is painful, but is easily reduced by a traumatologist, followed by splinting. If, as a result of an injury, blood vessels and nerve fibers in the articulation area are damaged, there is a risk of developing ischemic complications. In this case, surgical treatment is necessary.

Knee contusion

Knee contusion is a traumatic injury resulting from a fall, a blow with a blunt object or a sharp rotation of the torso on a fixed foot, which occurred without compromising the integrity of the articulation structures. When bruised, the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and all intra-articular elements suffer. With a mild injury, capillary rupture does not occur, due to reflex spasm and vasodilation, edema and hematomas are observed. With a strong bruise, there is pain, severe hemorrhage, the affected tissues are saturated with blood. When it enters the articular cavity, hemarthrosis or synovitis is diagnosed.

Meniscus injury

The meniscus is a fibrous cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint during movement. Injury to the meniscus of the knee joint is most often found in athletes, ballet dancers, people performing heavy physical work. If the meniscus is damaged, it is impossible to bend and straighten the leg, there are difficulties with climbing and descending stairs. Symptoms are characteristic clicks, pain, swelling, limited movement. When X-ray diagnostics and MRI in the joint, an accumulation of fluid is detected. When the cartilage is displaced, the orthopedist inserts them into place and applies a cast or splint. For small tears, arthroscopy of the knee joint is performed to relieve swelling, remove fluid and restore mobility. With extensive tears, an operation is performed to remove the meniscus.

Tendon rupture

The tendon joints are located under the knee and are responsible for flexion and extension of the hip, keeping the body in an upright position when walking. Injuries are provoked by active sports, open fractures, knee injuries with sharp objects, improper load distribution, and age-related tissue degeneration. The main symptoms are intense pain in the knee and gait disturbance caused by difficulty bending the leg while walking. If you have difficulty lifting the straight leg, you should contact a traumatologist or orthopedist to do an x-ray examination and an MRI. If the rupture is confirmed, the patient will need surgery followed by a cast on the knee.

Sprain of the knee ligaments

Injuries of the ligaments of the knee joint are formed when the lower leg is twisted outward or inward, with direct blows, falls from a height, road accidents, and other multicomponent effects. At the time of injury, the victim feels a click and sharp pain. The mobility of the lower leg is impaired, swelling and hematomas may form, lameness, signs of joint instability may appear.

Diagnosis of recent injuries is carried out under local anesthesia, x-rays are prescribed to exclude a fracture, MRI for layer-by-layer examination of ligaments, cartilage and tendons, ultrasound to determine the volume of synovial fluid. The leg is fixed with an elastic bandage, in difficult cases arthroscopy of the knee joint is prescribed.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis of the knee is an inflammatory process that affects the patellar ligament. Inflammation is localized in the area of ​​the tendon that connects the patella to the lower leg. The causes of the disease are microtrauma and constant overstrain of the tendon. The disease is most often diagnosed in athletes: athletes, football players, basketball players, tennis players. It is characterized by severe pain during extreme loads, as well as pain when pressing on the ligaments in a calm state. Predisposing factors are: foot pathology, wearing uncomfortable shoes, joint injuries, an ill-conceived training schedule, jumping on a hard surface, heavy weight.

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Risk factors for knee injury

Risk factors for various types of knee injury include:

1. Being overweight. Increases the load on the articular joints during normal movements, destroys articular cartilage, increases the likelihood of developing arthritis and arthrosis.
2. Weakness of the muscular system. Well-developed muscles hold and protect the joints from injury, increase the range of motion.
3. Chronic injuries and inflammations. Poorly healed previous injuries to cartilage and bone tissue increase the risk of new injuries.
4. Active sports activities. Increase the load on the knee joint and increase the risk of injury basketball, football, hockey, skiing, jogging.

First Aid for Knee Injuries

For those who play sports or work that involves heavy physical exertion, it is important to know how to determine which knee injury has occurred in order to provide first aid to the victim. This is a standard procedure that requires:

1. Provide peace. The person should be laid on a flat hard surface and slightly raise the injured leg by placing a pillow or roller under it.
2. Put a splint or compression bandage on the leg (except for a broken joint) to keep it in a stationary horizontal position.
3. Apply ice to the injury site for 2 to 3 hours. This will reduce pain and swelling.
4. For severe pain, give the victim any pain medication.
5. If there is an open fracture, stop the bleeding by applying a tourniquet to the leg above the injury, indicating the time. After an hour, the tourniquet must be loosened and shifted a little higher.

Important!

You can not independently set the joint in case of dislocation, touch the bone fragments in case of an open fracture or try to put them in place, warm up the knee within 48 hours after the injury, since there is a high risk of complications.

Treatment of knee injuries

Depending on the nature of the injury, knee injuries are treated in different ways. Minor injuries are treated with conservative methods: therapeutic exercises, physiotherapy, medication. The most serious injuries are knee meniscus injury, anterior cruciate ligament tear and knee fracture. The most effective and safe methods of treatment are used in the Department of Surgery of the Garvis Clinic:

1. Metal osteosynthesis. It is performed with multi-comminuted, periarticular and intraarticular fractures of bones. During the operation, the traumatologist-orthopedist installs metal implants that allow you to match and hold the bone fragments in the correct anatomical position, which contributes to the rapid healing of the damaged bone.
2. Knee arthroscopy. A minimally invasive operation, indications for which are both chronic injuries that occurred more than 1 month ago, as well as fresh meniscus injuries, synovitis and other pathologies. During arthroscopy, 2 small incisions are made, into one of which a special solution is introduced to wash the articular cavity, and into the other – an arthroscope with a microvideo camera. The doctor sees the image on the monitor and can perform the necessary manipulations. The advantage of arthroscopy is the absence of negative consequences after the procedure.
3. Knee replacement. A complex endoscopic operation, during which a damaged and worn joint is replaced with an artificial one. Endoprosthetics is performed in case of improper bone fusion and the ineffectiveness of conservative methods of treating arthrosis, bone tissue necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, purulent inflammation of the joint and other diseases.

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Exercises to develop the knee joint after injury

Very often people are wondering what to do to prevent knee injuries. The answer is simple enough. Massage of the knee joint after an injury and a set of exercises will help reduce the risk of re-injury and restore knee mobility:

1. Sliding the heel on the floor. The exercise is performed in the supine position. The heel, without lifting off the floor, must be slowly moved to the buttocks and slowly returned to its original position.
2. Flexion of the injured knee with the healthy leg. Suitable for early rehabilitation after injury. Exercise is done while sitting on a chair. Placing a healthy leg over the patient, they try to bend the damaged knee joint as much as possible.
3. Knee flexion with belt. The patient sits on a chair and rests on a healthy leg. The ankle of the injured leg is secured with a strap that is wrapped around the leg of the chair, with the free end in the hand. It is necessary to pull the belt towards you so that the injured knee bends until pain appears in the thigh area.
4. Knee extension with support. Sitting on a chair and focusing on a healthy leg, the foot of the diseased limb is placed on a chair or cabinet so that the injured knee remains on weight. To extend the leg, you can use various weights.