Knee Injuries

The information here will help you understand your knee injury, guide you through your rehabilitation and explain what you can do to maximise your recovery.

Advice for a recent knee injury

In the first 72 hours, it’s important to:

  • rest your leg
  • elevate it above hip level
  • apply a cold pack regularly
  • use crutches for walking or a support bandage

It’s helpful to remember PRICER:

  • Protect
  • Rest
  • Ice
  • Compression
  • Elevate
  • Rehabilitation

Medication

The Emergency Department (ED) or a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) may have prescribed you with some pain relief. Take these as instructed to help manage the pain.

If you do not feel that this medication is helping, talk to us during your appointment in Fracture Clinic, or your GP, about an alternative option.

Cold packs

Ice is a great natural anaesthetic that helps relieve pain and controls swelling. Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a wet thin towel to your injured area for up to 15 minutes every few hours.

  • Do not place ice in direct contact with the skin.
  • Do not leave the ice pack on for more than 20 minutes at a time in one hour.

Rest and elevation

It’s important to rest your injured area as much as possible in the first 24 to 72 hours.

It’s normal to experience swelling after your injury which is often worse at the end of the day.

Elevation reduces swelling, which in turn relieves pain and speeds up your healing. Keep your injured area elevated as much as possible during the first 24 to 72 hours.

If you have been given a sling, use it to keep your injured area elevated. You may find it more comfortable to use pillows to elevate it during the evening and at night.

If you have a lower limb injury, try to keep your feet elevated above the level of your hip.

Smoking

Medical evidence suggests that smoking prolongs fracture healing time. In extreme cases it can stop healing altogether. Stopping smoking during the healing phase of a fracture will help ensure optimal recovery from this injury.

For advice on stopping smoking and local support available, please discuss this with your GP or go to the NHS Smoke Free website.

Helping your recovery

Being healthy can help you recover from your injury faster. Eating well, staying hydrated and keeping as active as possible will all help. We’ve put together a set of videos on all the things you can do to help you recover as quickly as possible.

Care plans for bone injuries in your knee

Below we have care plans for different types of knee bone injuries, including information that will help you understand your injury, guide you through your rehabilitation and explain what you can do to maximise your recovery.

Your diagnosis should have been made by an orthopaedic consultant or one of the team working under the supervision of the consultant team. The information in these care plans is to help you understand your diagnosis and is not exhaustive.

Non-urgent advice: Please note:

Your consultant may give you a different, personalised care plan based on your injury and whether you need imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or an ultrasound) or an operation.


1. Patella dislocation

What is your injury?

A patella dislocation is when your kneecap slides out of joint. You will have a T-scope brace or a patella stabilising brace to help manage this injury.

Healing

This injury will take up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.

Follow up

A knee specialist will call you for a follow-up after your injury. This usually takes place after around two weeks. They will tell you about the next stage of your rehabilitation. Please make sure we have your up-to-date contact details.

If you feel you’d like to see someone at any time in the six months after your injury, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Wearing your knee brace

To protect your knee, you must wear the brace fitted by the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). Your brace is called a T-scope. We will set your brace at 0 to 90 degrees range of movement.

Person wearing a T-scope knee brace
Overhead view of a person wearing a T-scope knee brace

If this is the first time you have dislocated your knee cap, you need to wear the brace for 6 weeks. Put your full weight through your leg as you’re able.

You must wear your knee brace during the day and night for 6 weeks. Only take it off to wash or use a cold pack. You must keep your knee straight and put the brace back on when you finish washing or using your cold pack.

This video tells you how to fit your T-scope brace.

If this is not the first time you have dislocated your knee cap

Please use your patella stabilisation brace again. Put as much weight through your leg as you can. We’ll tell you when you no longer need the brace.

Walking

You can put weight through your leg. You may find it easier to use crutches in the early stages.

Exercises

It’s important to start exercises as soon as possible. Follow the instructions and pictures below.

Do each of these exercises 3 to 4 times a day. Start straight away. Do not push into pain.

More information

You can find out more about your patella dislocation, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.


2. Undisplaced patella fracture

What is your injury?

It’s a fracture (break in the bone) to your kneecap. Undisplaced means that the bones have not moved.

Healing

This injury will take up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances. You may experience some ongoing pain and swelling for 3 to 6 months.

Follow up

You’ll be referred to our virtual fracture clinic and we’ll tell you whether you need to come to the Fracture Clinic for a see a clinician for a face to face appointment. If you don’t need to come in, but you feel you’d like to see someone at any time in the six months after your injury, you can still book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892. After the virtual clinic, we’ll also send you a letter explaining the next step in managing your injury.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Wearing your knee brace

To protect your knee, you must wear the brace fitted by the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). Your knee brace is called a T-scope.

Person wearing a T-scope knee brace
Overhead view of a person wearing a T-scope knee brace

Only remove the brace to wash your leg daily or apply a cold pack. Keep your knee straight while you wash and replace the brace afterwards.

How do I adjust my brace?

The ED or MIU will have explained that you need to adjust your brace during the 6 weeks of your rehabilitation.

They will set your brace at 0 to 30 degrees range of movement. Keep it at this setting for two weeks.

You will then need to adjust your brace:

  • 2 weeks after your injury adjust it to 0 to 60 degrees
  • 4 weeks after your injury adjust it to 0 to 90 degrees
Dial of a T-scope brace showing 30 degrees range of movement

This video tells you how to adjust your T-scope brace.

Walking

You can partially walk on your leg for 6 weeks by putting about 50% of your bodyweight through your injured leg. Try standing on weighing scales and use crutches to assist you. These videos explain how to use crutches for partial weight bearing.

After 6 weeks, you can put your full bodyweight through your injured leg and gradually remove the brace and crutches. Try using one crutch until you can walk without them.

Early weight bearing (putting weight through your injured leg) helps increase the speed of healing. Try to walk as normally as possible. This will help your recovery.

Exercises

Follow the exercises below within the limits of your pain. These exercises will help the healing process.

Do each of these exercises 3 to 4 times a day. Start straight away. Do not push into pain.

More information

You can find out more about your undisplaced patella fracture, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.


3. Proximal fibula fracture

What is your injury?

It’s a break to the bone on the outside of your leg below your knee.

Sometimes this injury is associated with an ankle injury. It’s important that you tell us if you have any associated pain, swelling or bruising around your ankle.

Healing

It can take up to 12 weeks for this fracture to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances. You may experience some ongoing pain and swelling for 3 to 6 months.

Follow up

We’ll tell you if you need a further follow-up.

If you feel you’d like to see someone, you can book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.

Please call the Fracture Clinic if:

  • you still have significant pain or swelling after 6 weeks
  • you’re struggling to remove the boot
  • you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions about it
  • you experience pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Walking

You can put weight through your leg when wearing your boot. You may find it easier to use crutches in the early stages. You will need to pace your activity until your pain and movement is better.

Try to stop using the boot and crutches as soon as you can. You should have stopped using them by 6 weeks after your injury.

Practice walking without your boot and crutches around your home first. Build up to longer walks outside.

Remove your boot to wash, dress and do your exercises.

Exercises

It’s important to start exercises as soon as possible. Follow the instructions and pictures below. Do each of these exercises 3 to 4 times a day. Start straight away. Do not push into pain.

More information

You can find out more about your proximal fibula, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.


4. Tibial plateau fracture

What is your injury?

You have fractured the top of your tibia (shin bone). This area is called the tibial plateau. It’s part of your knee joint.

Healing

This injury will take up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances.

Some people with a tibial plateau fracture may need surgery.

Follow up

You’ll be referred to our virtual fracture clinic. We’ll tell you when you need to come to the Fracture Clinic for a see a clinician for a face to face appointment. After the virtual clinic, we’ll also send you a letter explaining the next step in managing your injury.

If you feel you’d like to see someone at any time in the six months after your injury, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions about it
  • you experience pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Wearing your knee brace

You will have been given a T-scope brace at the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) to help you manage your injury. You can take this off to wash and check your leg but keep your knee straight as you do it.

Person wearing a T-scope knee brace
Overhead view of a person wearing a T-scope knee brace

Keep the brace on when doing your exercises. Try to bend and straighten your knee as much as your brace allows you to and within pain limits, as shown below.

Person with their injured knee bent doing exercises while wearing a T-scope brace

You should repeat this 10 to 15 times, 4 to 5 times a day.

How do I adjust my brace?

The ED or MIU will have explained that you need to adjust your brace during the 6 weeks of your rehabilitation.

They will set your brace at 0 to 30 degrees range of movement. Keep it at this setting for two weeks.

You will then need to adjust your brace:

  • 2 weeks after your injury adjust it to 0 to 60 degrees
  • 4 weeks after your injury adjust it to 0 to 90 degrees
Dial of a T-scope brace showing 30 degrees range of movement

This video tells you how to adjust your T-scope brace.

Walking

You must not put any weight on your affected leg for at least 6 weeks and possibly up to 12 weeks. You can walk using crutches by putting weight through your non-affected leg.

Exercises

To recover movement it’s important to start exercises as soon as possible.

Do each of these exercises 3 to 4 times a day.


Care plans for soft tissue knee injuries

Below we have care plans for different types of soft tissue knee injuries, including information that will help you understand your injury, guide you through your rehabilitation and explain what you can do to maximise your recovery.

Your diagnosis should have been made by an orthopaedic consultant or one of the team working under the supervision of the consultant team. The information in these care plans is to help you understand your diagnosis and is not exhaustive.

Non-urgent advice: Please note:

Your consultant may give you a different, personalised care plan based on your injury and whether you need imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or an ultrasound) or an operation.

What is a soft tissue knee injury?

You may have torn any of the four ligaments in your knee, or damaged other areas inside your knee such as cartilage.
Soft tissue knee injuries are graded according to severity:

  • Grade 1: a few fibres are damaged or torn. This will usually heal naturally. It is often referred to as a sprain.
  • Grade 2: more fibres are torn, but the ligament is still intact. This may be referred to as a severe sprain.
  • Grade 3: the ligament is completely disrupted. The knee joint is unstable and you may need an operation. This is a significant soft tissue injury.

How we will help you manage your injury

This will depend on your injury. For mild injuries such as sprains, PRICER (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Rehabilitation) plus time will allow your injury to heal.

More severe injuries may need further imaging such as an MRI scan. You may or may not need an operation.
To maximise your recovery, we’ll help you:

  • manage your pain
  • minimise your knee swelling
  • maintain the range of movement in your knee joint
  • keep your front thigh (quadriceps) muscles working and stop your hamstring muscles at the back of your thigh taking over too much.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is an integral part of managing knee injuries, regardless of whether you’re having an operation. In more major soft tissue injuries, where we suspect you’ve injured one of the major ligaments or cartilages, one of our specialist physiotherapists will follow up with you to talk about how to manage your injury and whether you need further imaging (such as an MRI or CT scan, or an x-ray).


1. Mild soft tissue injury / knee sprain

What is your injury?

It’s a sprain to your knee. This can range from mild to severe. You may have been fitted with a knee support to help with initial swelling. If so, remove it at night.

Healing

Mild soft tissue knee injuries can take up to 12 weeks to heal, but this may differ depending on your individual circumstances and the severity of your injury.

Follow up

These injuries do not normally need a follow-up, but we may decide you need to be referred to a physiotherapist. We’ll let you know if you do.

If you feel you’d like to see someone, you can book an open appointment at any time in the six months after your injury. Please call 01736 758892 to make an appointment.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you experience a sensation of giving way, locking or instability in your knee
  • you’re unable to follow this rehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions about it
  • you experience pain or symptoms, other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Walking

You may walk on your leg as comfort allows. Use crutches and/or a support if you were given them at the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).

Gradually use your crutches and support less as pain and swelling eases.

Exercises

Follow the exercises below within the limits of your pain. These exercises will help the healing process.

Do each of these exercises 3 to 4 times a day. Start straight away.

Do not push into pain. Adjust your activity level until your movement returns and your pain has resolved.

More information

You can find out more about your soft tissue knee injury, and see demonstrations of the exercises in this video from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.


2. Suspected anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury

What is your injury?

You have torn or sprained your ACL. It’s one of the 4 major ligaments in your knee that keeps your knee joint stable.

ACL injuries usually happen during sports. You may have pain, swelling, difficulty walking or feelings of instability (such as your leg giving way).

Healing

An ACL is a serious injury and it’s rare for it to heal completely by itself.

Depending on your injury and lifestyle, you may be able to manage your injury with physiotherapy and by changing the way you do things.

Some people, particularly younger people and those with active lifestyles, may be offered reconstructive surgery. ACL surgery fully restores the functioning of the knee in more than 80% of cases.

After the operation, it typically takes 9 to 12 months before you can return to sport, as long as you meet your rehabilitation goals with the physiotherapy team.

Having an operation on your ACL

ACL reconstruction uses a graft from your hamstring or patella tendon graft.
If surgery is an option, a knee surgeon will discuss this with you to help you understand the risks and benefits so you can make an informed decision.

You can find out more about knee surgery on the NHS website.

Find out more about having surgery for a soft tissue injury.

If you need an operation, prehabilitation exercises will help you prepare for and recover from surgery. It’s important to help you get the best outcome from your operation, so you must follow your physiotherapist and surgeon’s advice.

Follow up

We’ll refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation or prehabilitation if you need an operation. We will discuss this in person when we discuss your injury in the fracture clinic. If you’d like to see someone at any time in the 6 months after your injury, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow your rehabilitation or prehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Wearing your knee brace

You may have been given a knee brace in the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). The brace is called a T-scope and we’ll have set it to a specific range of motion to protect your knee.

We’ll tell you how long you need to wear the brace for. It’s usually at least 6 weeks but could be longer depending on the severity of your injury.

If your injury is severe, we’ll tell you whether you need to wear your knee brace during the day and night. If you do, only take it off to wash or use a cold pack. You must keep your knee straight while the brace is off and put the brace back on afterwards.

Watch this video to find out how to remove and replace your brace.

Walking

You may have crutches to help you walk. Depending on your individual injury, we’ll discuss how much weight you can put through your leg when walking.

If you notice increased pain or swelling after walking, it can be a sign that you’re overdoing it. Please reduce the amount of walking you do and rest your leg. Elevate it to help reduce swelling.

Exercises

You can find exercises to help you recover from an ACL injury, or to prepare for an operation (prehabilitation) on your ACL here.


3. Suspected posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury

What is your injury?

You have torn or sprained your PCL. It’s one of the ligaments in your knee that keeps your knee joint stable.

You may have a few or no symptoms and might not realise that you have this injury. You might be able to walk normally and only experience some pain and mild swelling.

You may feel more generalised knee pain if you don’t treat the injury and feel discomfort when running, walking distances and down stairs.

A PCL injury might happen:

  • during direct contact while playing sports, for example to your shin
  • falling on your bent knee
  • twisting your knee
  • your knees hitting the dashboard in a car accident.

Healing

This injury will take approximately 6 to 12 months to heal. It may heal on its own over time by wearing a knee brace. You may need an operation if your knee remains unstable after we remove the brace.

You can find out more about knee surgery here:

Follow up

We’ll refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation, or prehabilitation. You may also need a follow-up for further x-rays such as an MRI, or to talk to a knee surgeon if you need an operation.

We’ll inform you of this after your face-to-face appointment in the Fracture Clinic. If you’d like to see someone at any time in the 6 months after you have been discharged, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow your rehabilitation or prehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Having an operation on your PCL

If surgery is an option, a knee surgeon will discuss this with you to help you understand the risks and benefits so you can make an informed decision.

You can find out more about knee surgery on the NHS website.

Find out more on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.

If you need an operation, prehabilitation exercises will help you prepare for and recover from surgery. It’s important to help you get the best outcome from your operation, so you must follow your physiotherapist and surgeon’s advice.

Wearing your knee brace

To protect your knee, you must wear the brace fitted by the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). It’s called a Rebound PCL Brace.

You need to wear the brace for 12 to 16 weeks.

Keep the brace on all the time except for washing. Remember to keep your leg straight when you take your brace off.

Rebound PCL brace

Watch this video to find out how to fit your brace.

Walking

You may have elbow crutches to help you walk.

These videos show you how to use your crutches.

You can put weight through your injured knee but you must be guided by your pain and swelling. Walk little and often, pace yourself and follow the PRICER (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate and Rehab) principles.

Exercises

If you’ve been given a knee brace, wear it when doing these exercises and only move as your brace allows.

Start doing these exercises straight away. You must do these exercises 3 times daily. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.

Take painkillers 30 minutes before starting. Use ice after exercising where needed.


4. Suspected medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury

What is your injury?

You have torn or sprained your MCL. It’s one of the ligaments in your knee that keeps your knee joint stable.

An MCL injury is one of the most common knee ligament injuries. It usually happens by twisting your knee or receiving a direct blow to the outside of your knee, often during sports.

It’s common to injure one of your cruciate ligaments, or your meniscus, at the same time as your MCL.

Healing

This injury will take approximately 3 to 9 months to heal. It may heal on its own over time or you may need an operation.

Follow up

We will refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation, or prehabilitation. You may also need a follow-up for further x-rays such as an MRI, or to talk to a knee surgeon if you need an operation.

We’ll contact you to book these in, so please make sure we have your up-to-date contact details.
If you’d like to see someone at any time in the 6 months after you have been discharged, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow your rehabilitation or prehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Having an operation on your MCL

Your individual circumstances will guide whether we recommend having an operation to reconstruct your MCL. The MCL heals better when the torn ends are in contact. Maturation of the scar occurs from 6 weeks to up to one year.

If surgery is an option, a knee surgeon will discuss this with you to help you understand the risks and benefits so you can make an informed decision.

You can find out more about knee surgery on the NHS website.

Learn more about having an orthopaedic operation on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.

If you need an operation, prehabilitation exercises will help you prepare for and recover from surgery. It’s important to help you get the best outcome from your operation, so you must follow your physiotherapist and surgeon’s advice.

Wearing your knee brace

To protect your knee, you must wear the brace fitted by the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). Your brace is called a T-scope. We will set your brace at 0 to 90 degrees range of movement.

You need to wear the brace for 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of your injury. We will see you in the Fracture Clinic and confirm the actual time needed for your particular injury.

You must wear your knee brace during the day and night for 6 weeks. Only take it off to wash or use a cold pack. You must keep your knee straight and put the brace back on when you finish washing or using your cold pack.

Watch this video to find out how to fit your brace.

Walking

You may have elbow crutches to help you walk.

These videos show you how to use your crutches.

You can put weight through your injured knee but you must be guided by your pain and swelling. Walk little and often, pace yourself and follow the PRICER (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate and Rehab) principles.

Exercises

If you’ve been given a knee brace, wear it when doing these exercises and only move as your brace allows.

Start doing these exercises straight away. You must do these exercises 3 times daily. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.

Take painkillers 30 minutes before starting. Use ice after exercising where needed.


5. Suspected lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury

What is your injury?

You have torn or sprained your LCL. It’s one of the ligaments on the outside of your knee that keeps your knee joint stable.

An LCL injury may happen from a direct blow to the inside of your knee, or stress on the knee from twisting the side of your foot.

You might feel:

  • pain and swelling
  • tenderness along the outside of your knee
  • instability such as your leg giving way
  • locking or catching when you move your knee
  • numbness or weakness in your foot

Healing

This injury will take approximately 3 to 12 months to heal. Grade 1 and 2 LCL injuries usually heal well on their own over time. Some grade 2 and grade 3 injuries need an operation. This may happen in the first few weeks after your injury or at a later stage depending on your individual circumstances.

It’s important to follow a pre and postoperative physiotherapy programme to help your recovery.

Follow up

We’ll refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation, or prehabilitation if you need an operation. You may also need a follow-up for further x-rays such as an MRI, or to talk to a knee surgeon.

If you’d like to see someone at any time in the 6 months after you have been discharged, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow your rehabilitation or prehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Wearing your knee brace

To protect your knee, you must wear the brace fitted by the Emergency Department (ED) or Minor Injuries Unit (MIU). Your brace is called a T-scope. We will set your brace at 0 to 30 degrees range of movement.

You need to wear a brace for 2 weeks.

You must wear your knee brace during the day and night for 2 weeks. Only take it off to wash or use a cold pack. You must keep your knee straight and put the brace back on when you finish washing or using your cold pack.

Watch this video to find out how to fit your brace.

Walking

You should be able to fully weight bear unless you’re told not to by one of our consultants.

Exercises

If you’ve been given a knee brace, wear it when doing these exercises and only move as your brace allows.

Start doing these exercises straight away. You must do these exercises 3 times daily. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.

Take painkillers 30 minutes before starting. Use ice after exercising where needed.


6. Suspected meniscal injury

What is your injury?

You have bruised or torn the thick pads of cartilage tissue (menisci) in your knee. The menisci act as shock absorbers to absorb body weight and help smooth movement and stability of the knee. Each knee joint contains a medial and lateral meniscus (inner and outer meniscus).
Injuring your meniscus often happens during sport through twisting your knee while your foot stays on the ground.
Meniscal injuries also happen through repeated small injuries, or wear and tear of the cartilage in older people. Severe meniscus injuries may damage other parts of your knee so you may have also sprained or torn a ligament.

Healing

Depending on your injury, it could take between 2 weeks to 12 months to heal.

If you have bruised your menisci or have a small tear, the injury should heal on its own in time.

If you have a larger tear, ongoing pain, or your knee locks or gives way, you may need an operation. This is because meniscal cartilage does not heal very well once it is torn. It’s mainly because it does not have a good blood supply.
If you have an operation and follow the advice from your doctor and physiotherapist you should fully recover.

What symptoms can you expect?

Your symptoms will depend on the type and position of the tear.

If your injury is because of wear and tear, your knee may feel slightly swollen for several months, but you may also not experience any symptoms.

You may find pain is worse when you straighten your leg. If the pain is mild you may still be able to walk. If the pain is severe, you may have a torn fragment of meniscus caught between your tibia and femur. You will need an urgent operation.

You may notice a clicking or catching feeling when you walk or be unable to straighten your knee fully.

If your knee locks (it gets stuck when you bend it and you can’t straighten it without moving the leg with your hands), please call us on 01872 253091 as we’ll need to see you urgently. You can also see your GP for an urgent referral.

Follow up

We’ll refer you to a physiotherapist for rehabilitation, or prehabilitation. You may also need a follow-up for further x-rays such as an MRI, or to talk to a knee surgeon if you need an operation.

We’ll contact you to book these in, so please make sure we have your up-to-date contact details.
If you’d like to see someone at any time in the 6 months after you have been discharged, you can book an open appointment by calling 01736 758892.

Please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091 if:

  • you’re unable to follow your rehabilitation or prehabilitation plan
  • you have any questions
  • you’re struggling with your brace
  • you experience pain or symptoms other than at the site of the original injury or surrounding area.

Walking

If you have mild pain, you can walk and put weight through your knee and leg as you’re able to tolerate.

If your injury is more severe, you may not be able to walk without a lot of pain. If this is the case, you may need one or more of the following:

  • walking aids
  • a knee brace
  • physiotherapy
  • cortisone injections.

See your GP for a referral to physiotherapy or the Fracture Clinic. Their team will assess you and decide on the best treatment depending on the severity of your injury.

Exercises

If you’ve been given a knee brace, wear it when doing these exercises and only move as your brace allows.

Start doing these exercises straight away. You must do these exercises 3 times daily. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.

Take painkillers 30 minutes before starting. Use ice after exercising where needed.


Using your knee braces and crutches

Advice for how to fit, wear and adjust your brace is different for each type of injury. Please read the information for your injury above. You must keep your brace on for all your exercises for at least 6 weeks.

How to use crutches

These videos show you how to use your crutches.

What should I do with my brace and crutches when I no longer need them?

  • We can not use the brace again. You should not return it to the hospital.
  • You can return crutches to the Fracture Clinic or your local physiotherapy department.

Preventing complications

Caring for your wound and stitches

If you’ve had an operation, you’ll need to keep your stitches dry and clean. You should also look out for any redness or signs of swelling, bleeding or pus as these can be signs of an infection.

You can find information about how to care for your stitches, if/when they need to be removed and signs of an infection on our surgery for fractures and soft tissue injuries page.

Blood clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Because your limb is immobilised and you’ll be moving less than normal, you’re at higher risk of developing a blood clot or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). This can be life threatening if left untreated.

Symptoms of DVT in the leg are:

  • throbbing or cramping pain in 1 leg (rarely both legs), usually in the calf or thigh
  • swelling in 1 leg (rarely both legs)
  • warm skin around the painful area
  • red or darkened skin around the painful area
  • swollen veins that are hard or sore when you touch them.

These symptoms can also happen in your arm or tummy if that’s where the blood clot is.

More information about DVT

Preventative medication for DVT

If you have been told not to put any weight through your leg or to partially weight bear (50%), you should have been assessed in ED or MIU and told if you need to take preventative medication.

If you have not had this conversation please call your GP for an urgent appointment.

Depending on your injury, you may have been prescribed a course of a blood thinner. There are a few different types of medication and they often need injecting into your tummy. You can discuss an alternative with a doctor. Please see the relevant care plan for your injury.

Pressure sores and ulcers

Wearing a boot or plaster cast combined with not moving your limb can lead to pressure sores or ulcers. These are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure, rubbing or tension.

They often develop gradually, but can sometimes form in a few hours.

Signs and symptoms of pressure sores

These include:

  • skin discolouration – red patches for people with pale skin, purple or blue patches for people with dark skin
  • discoloured patches that do not turn white when pressed
  • a patch of skin that feels warm, spongy or hard
  • pain or itchiness in the affected area.

If you have a boot, take it off every day to check your skin and make sure it’s not rubbing.

If you have a plaster cast, look out for a change in colour (red or white) of your skin above or below the plaster, an increase in pain inside the plaster or pins and needles.

If you think you have a pressure sore or ulcer call the Fracture Clinic straight away on 01872 253091.

For out of hours advice please call 01736 758909.

Sepsis

Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is a serious infection that can be life threatening. There is no one sign for sepsis so it can be hard to spot.

Call 111 immediately if you develop any of the following:

  • Slurred speech or confusion
  • Extreme shivering or muscle pain
  • Passing no urine in a day
  • Severe breathlessness
  • It feels like you’re going to die
  • Skin is mottled or discoloured.

Find out more about the symptoms of sepsis on the NHS website.

These videos also explain what sepsis is and how to spot the early signs.

Living with your injury

Work

Decisions to return to work are made on a unique basis and should be discussed with the Fracture Clinic, your GP, and your employer.

You may need time off work and when you return, you may need light or amended duties. When you should return to work will depend on your profession and your injury.

If you see us in person at the Fracture Clinic we can give you a fitness for work statement or a sick note. If you don’t come to see us, you can also get one from your GP.

Driving

If you have an injury to a lower limb (foot, ankle, or knee), you can return to driving when you:

  • have been told you no longer need your brace, boot or crutches, or your plaster cast has been removed
  • can walk comfortably
  • can perform an emergency stop pain-free.

Always test your ability to drive with the ignition off and in a safe environment.

If you have a follow-up appointment with us, please wait until your consultant or physiotherapist has given you clearance to drive.

If you’re in any doubt, do not drive until you have spoken to our team.

Sport

You should not do any sports at all for at least 6 weeks.

You must avoid impact sports, jumping, running, dancing, and heavy lifting for at least 12 weeks.

Some injuries will mean you have to wait longer before you can return to sport or impact activities. Please check your specific care plan. If you’re unsure about whether you should do a sport or activity, please call the Fracture Clinic on 01872 253091.

Thank you to Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals for kindly letting us use information from their care plans to create this site.

Page last reviewed: 10 May 2023

Alert: Visiting restrictions are in place due to Norovirus

See our news article for more information.

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