ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/PAIN REASONS
A “locked knee” is a term used commonly to describe a patient’s incapacity to either curve or straighten their knee.
A locked knee can be acutely painful disorder that restricts not only the ability to curve, but even the ability to walk, to step up, or to sit down easily.
To recover from the uneasiness of a locked knee we should define first is the cause of this disorder.
Addressing the source of the disorder may allow the knee to curve normally again.
There are two kinds of locked knees:
The locked knee can either occur due to a mechanical block or due to a severe pain preventing knee motion.
The first step should be to define if the knee is not curving due to sudden pain, or due to something inside the knee, and physically blocking joint motion.
What to Do with a Locked Knee
If a locked knee is occurring due to a mechanical block to motion, known by “bucket handle” meniscus tear, that means there is something wrong that had happened physically within the knee mechanism. In this case, a large fragment of the torn meniscus can become squeezed within the knee, stopping normal motion.
Sometimes, Patients can also suffer of a locked knee when they have severe pain with any knee motion.
In both cases, a precise physical exam is usually recommended to differentiate these two disorders kinds.
Diagnosis
X-rays of the knee joint can show loose bone, cracks, and inflammation within the joint.
X-rays can also be helpful to ensure that there is nothing serious taking place in or around the joint and that is preventing the knee from curving.
MRI is required when X-rays does not help.
MRI can show clearly any cartilage, ligament and tendon damages such as a torn or abnormal meniscus tears.
Existing Therapy
An Arthroscopic knee surgery is typical therapy recommended when a physical block to the knee mobility (such as a bucket-handle meniscus tear).
Sometimes, injecting the knee with a local anesthetic to alleviate the pain is recommended.
When the locked knee is due just because of a sudden pain and X-rays did not show any inside damage, simple pain relieving therapy is used such as ice applying, anti-inflammatory medicines and relaxation.
A Final Word
Suffering from a locked knee is classically a significant disorder with the knee joint.
Patient should refer to a specialist to determine if only pain is the cause of limiting mobility, or if there is something wrong physically occurring inside the knee joint.