Post-traumatic arthritis
A serious knee injury can actually cause arthritis in some injured people. A knee fracture or ligament tear can damage the articular cartilage over time, limiting knee function and causing pain in the knee joint. Post-traumatic arthritis can occur as a result of any high-energy accident such as a car accident in which the knee is struck or pulled with great force.
While the full causes of post-traumatic arthritis are not known, it is likely that injury to the knee joint results in adjustments to the body's load-bearing capacity, putting strain on other joints and muscles not normally taxed to aid the knees. Decreased blood flow to the bones of the leg can also cause post-traumatic arthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis may be aided by total knee replacement.
Symptoms of post-traumatic arthritis include:
- pain in knee joint
- impairment of normal range of knee motion
- stiffness
- swelling
- muscle spasms
- difficulty or pain when climbing stairs or hills
If you've been injured in a car accident that has resulted in post-traumatic arthritis, you may have to deal with ongoing treatment of your pain. The counsel of an experienced personal injury lawyer may assist you to receive just compensation for your injuries so that you can afford the ongoing treatment you need. Contact us today to see if we can help you. You'll have an opinion on your case by the close of the next business day.
Source: "UI researcher studies causes of post-traumatic arthritis," University of Iowa Health Care News, December 10, 2001.
