Fractured Patella After a Slip and Fall

Slip and Fall Lawyers in Indiana Can Help With A Broken or Fractured Patella Injury

Injuries such as broken bones are common in a slip and fall accident. One of the most commonly broken bones is a patella. Also known as the kneecap, a fractured patella after a slip and fall in Indiana can cause serious pain and suffering, result in lost wages and unexpected medical bills, and result in range of motion restrictions or permanent disability. While a fractured patella could be caused in a number of ways, the most common is just blunt trauma in a fall such as crashing into the ground right on your knee during a fall. If you or a loved one suffered a knee injury such as a broken kneecap in a slip and fall, call our experienced slip and fall lawyers at Shaw Law for help.

Our personal injury lawyers can be contacted by calling (260) 777-7777 for your free consultation. We know how important it is for victims and their families to recover compensation after a defendant’s negligence caused physical, emotional, and financial harm to a victim and their family.

What Is a Fractured Patella?

A fractured patella is also known as a fractured kneecap or a broken kneecap. At the front of the knee joint lives the patella, a small round bone that acts as a shield to protect the knee. The kneecap is referred to as one of the body’s sesamoid bones, because a sesamoid bone is a bone that is embedded within a tendon or a muscle. Most sesamoid bones are tiny like sesame seeds. Even though the patella is much larger than a sesame seed, it is nonetheless considered a sesamoid bone, as it embedded within the patellar tendon.

The patella is strong for its size, but it is not invincible. There is only so much force that it can withstand before it is no longer able to protect the knee joint. As with any type of shield, the kneecap is especially vulnerable to breaking or shattering with any type of direct hit or trauma. Of course, a person’s age and overall relative health must be taken into consideration as these can be considered contributing factors as to how severely the kneecap breaks or shatters. For example, an elderly person with more brittle bones or anyone with a vitamin D deficiency may have weaker bones that could break or shatter more easily and with less force than a stronger and healthier person under the same set of circumstances.

Falling on to the kneecap could break or shatter it, and so could taking a direct hit just like what happens in a car crash when the knee is forcefully slammed into the dashboard. Sports injuries also make up a large amount of fractured patellas, especially sports with a lot of bodily contact such as American football.

Most Common Types of Fractured Patellas

If the fractured patella is still in one piece but has a crack, then we call this a hairline fracture. This is also known as a hairline fracture. If the fractured patella is broken into to two pieces, it is called a comminuted patella fracture. If the kneecap is fractured into more than three pieces, this is referred to as a noncomminuted patella fracture.

Fractures are either referred to as “displaced” or “nondisplaced.” A displaced patella fracture means that the patella bone is broken but is still in its rightful position. A nondisplaced patella fracture means that the broken bone pieces have shifted out of their rightful place.

A closed fractured patella means that the kneecap is broken but those broken pieces are still under the skin. The opposite is an open fractured patella, meaning that the broken bones have poked through the skin.

Medical Treatments for a Fractured Patella

Treating a fractured patella will depend upon the type of the break, and the age and overall health of the patient. Less severe breaks may not need surgery and may heal with the help of a splint or a cast. For more severe fractures, surgery may be needed. This may entail the use of screws, wires and pins to fasten the patella together so that it can mend properly.

Often the ligaments of the knee may have also sustained damage along with the fracture, and this tissue damage will have to be addressed as well. It takes about six months to recover from a severe fractured patella injury. Physical therapy may be necessary and advised to help the patient to move more easily and fluidly. These exercises can also help to build back muscles that have weakened while the patient was not ambulatory.

Did You Suffer a Fractured Patella After a Slip and Fall Accident in Indiana? Our Law Firm Can Recovery Compensation for You

A fractured patella or broken kneecap is a serious injury that could result in significant pain and suffering, high medical bills, and lost wages. Whether you were caused to slip and fall at a private residence, business, or government building, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. Although many insurance adjusters will try to undermine your ability to recover these damages.

If you or a loved one suffered a fractured patella after a slip and fall in Indiana, call the experienced slip and fall lawyers in Indiana at (260) 777-7777 or message us to learn how we can help protect your rights.