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My child has injured their knee
Knee injuries in children are common injuries and usually don’t cause any long term problems. The knee joint is made up of:
- Ligaments: strong bands of tissue that connect bone to bone and help hold the joint together
- Tendons and muscles
- Meniscus: the cartilage acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint
- Cartilage and bones
A knee injury can involve any one of these and may result in pain, swelling and bruising, locking of the knee or the knee giving way. Knee sprains happen when the one of the ligaments gets twisted or torn. Strains are when the muscle or tendon gets over stretched and damaged.
When should we come back to hospital?
If your child:
- Can’t put weight on their knee at all or it keeps giving way
- Has severe pain even when not putting weight on their leg, such as at night
- Has a locked knee or it painfully clicks (painless clicking is OK)
- Is unable to fully bend or straighten their knee
- Has a fever, redness or heat around the knee, or it’s very swollen
- Has pain, swelling, numbness or tingling of the calf beneath the affected knee
- Has pain that doesn’t start to improve within a few weeks or pain that’s still severe after a few days of caring for their knee at home
More knee information can be found on the Brighton Virtual Fracture Clinic website.
Is there anything else I need to know?
Depending on the severity, knee injuries can take between 6 to 12 weeks to heal. Your child should not participate in any sports, PE or high impact activities (such as trampolining, gymnastics, skateboarding etc.) until advised further.
Sometimes, knee injuries require further treatment or surgery. This will be arranged by the Orthopaedic team in fracture clinic; if needed, an appointment will be organised for your child before you leave.
What if my child is fitted with a knee splint or bandage?
Splints temporarily immobilise and support the injured joint. In some cases it is ok to remove the splint for short periods of time when you’re your child is at home. Your child should complete the knee exercises as pain allows. They can also try walking without the splint a few steps at a time, gradually increasing the distance if they’re able.
What is the treatment for a knee injury?
- Pain relief is an important part of your child’s recovery and ability to walk. Give them regular Paracetamol and Ibuprofen as directed on the bottles/packets
- Rest will allow the healing process to begin. For the first few days your child should rest. If they are allowed to walk on their leg, they should reduce the amount of walking that they do
- Ice packs help to reduce swelling during the first few days, which in turn relieves pain. Wrap an ice pack or crushed-up ice in a towel or pillow case and place it on the swollen area for up to 15 minutes at a time
- Elevation also reduces swelling and pain. Ensure your child keeps their injured leg elevated (above hip level) as much as possible during the first few days
- Exercises are important and will help to reduce swelling, ease pain and can help to accelerate healing. In most cases they can be started straight away
The importance of knee exercises
Exercises help to strengthen the knee joint, keeping it supple and stop it from becoming stiff and painful. Stretching the muscles that support the knee can help this too. Exercises should be repeated 3 times a day as pain allows.
Exercises (3 times a day)
Static Quads Exercise
Gently tense the muscle in the thigh to straighten the knee, pushing the knee down into the floor or bed. Hold for 5 seconds and then relax. Repeat this 7 to 10 times.
Inner Quads Exercise
Place a rolled up towel or small pillow under the injured knee. Tense the thigh muscle and try to straighten the knee. Keep the back of the knee in contact with the towel/pillow. Repeat 10 times. If possible, try to hold the knee straight for 5 seconds.
Knee Flexion and Extension
Bend and straighten the injured leg as far as is comfortable. Repeat 7 to 10 times further. Repeat 7 to 10 times.
When you can do the first few exercises, start these
Seated Knee Extension
Sit on a chair with both feet on the floor. Straighten your injured knee to lift the foot off the ground. Repeat 10 times. If able, hold your leg straight for up to 5 seconds.
Our aim is to provide information that will help you understand your child’s injury and enable the appropriate after-care. There are lots of useful injury leaflets to download at the Royal Alexandra website.
Useful numbers
NHS 111 – 24hr advice line
Practice Plus
Brighton Walk-In Centre
0333 321 0946
Practice Plus GP
0300 130 3333
7 days a week
8:00 am to 8:00 pm
Disclaimer
The information in this leaflet is for guidance purposes only and is in no way intended
to replace professional clinical advice by a qualified practitioner.