Patellar Fracture

A patellar fracture can cause symptoms that are like other fractures, which may include the following:

• Sudden knee pain
• Difficult moving or walking
• Swelling in the knee
• Deformity of the knee
• Warmth or redness in the area of the fracture
• Bruising
• Areas that are tender to the touch

If you experience any of the symptoms of a patellar fracture, you should make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible. If the bone is protruding from the skin, you need to seek immediate emergency care as this kind of injury is severe and prone to complications like infection.

While most patellar fractures are the result of some sort of trauma to the knee, there are a few other kinds of injuries that may cause or contribute to a broken kneecap, including:

• A fall or motor vehicle accident
• A direct blow to the knee
• Stress from repetitive motion
• Conditions like osteoporosis [OS-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sis], which weaken bones throughout the body

If you suspect you have a broken kneecap, your doctor may conduct a series of tests to determine the severity of your injury and the extent of the fracture. These may include the following:

• Physical exam
• X-ray
• MRI

If your doctor suspects other underlying conditions may have contributed to the fracture, there may be additional blood or urine tests recommended. The tests your doctor suggests will depend upon your age, symptoms, your medical history, and your preference.

A patellar fracture is a serious injury that will require some combination of the following treatment methods:

• A cast or brace for 4-6 weeks
• Surgery

Depending on other complications from your injury, your doctor may recommend the following home care treatments:

• Ice or heat therapy to reduce swelling and control pain
• Pain medication and anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin

Depending on the severity of your fracture and the recovery time, your doctor may also recommend physical therapy to regain full use of your knee and improve outcomes after surgery.

Patellar fractures are usually the result of an accidental injury and can’t be prevented. If you have any underlying condition like osteoporosis that weakens the bones, managing that condition will be the best way to prevent patellar fractures.

A patellar [puh-TEL-ur] fracture is essentially a broken kneecap. The patella is the small round bone that covers and protects your knee joint.

A patellar fracture can be a complete break or a partial one. Often when the patella is fractured, the quadriceps tendon that runs behind the patella may also be strained or torn.

Patellar fracture happens most often in males, usually in middle-age, and is often the result of applied force from a direct blow, a fall, or some other sort of trauma. It can occur in athletes because of stress due to repetitive movement, but this type of fracture is less common.