The three bones that are connected in the knee joint are the lower femur, upper tibia and the patella, or kneecap. When the knee joint experiences blunt trauma, a fracture of the knee can occur involving any of these bones. The most common type of knee fracture involves the patella, a thin bone that covers the top of the knee joint. Dr. Fredrick Buechel, Jr., is a knee specialist and orthopedic surgeon who can perform knee fracture treatment, repair and surgery at our medical center in Naples.

Symptoms of Kneecap Fracture

While the femur or tibia can be fractured in a knee injury, the most likely bone to be fractured from a sharp blow to the front of the knee is the kneecap, or patella. A broken kneecap can be caused by impact to the knee in a sports injury or vehicle accident; a patella fracture can also occur from falling forcefully on your knee. The symptoms of a kneecap fracture include:

• Pain and swelling
• Inability to straighten knee
• Bruising
• Difficulty walking
• Unable to perform a straight-leg raise

Kneecap fractures can vary from simple to complex, depending on the severity of the injury. The type of treatment depends on whether the break is stable or displaced. If the kneecap fracture is stable and the pieces are still in place, a splint or cast may be used to immobilize the leg and knee, keeping it straight while the bone heals. If the patella fracture is displaced, it will likely require surgery to repair the bone and connect the pieces with surgical hardware. In severe cases, a shattered kneecap may need to be removed completely.

If you suffer a knee fracture and need treatment, contact our team at Robotic Joint Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Buechel to discuss your treatment options. We offer knee fractures treatment and surgery for broken kneecaps at our medical center in Naples.