Hyperextension Injuries: The Knee

Injury chiropractic scientist, Dr. Alexander Jimenez looks at how knees can be hyperextended and hurt during sport — and the way they can be treated.

Knee hyperextension injures could be chronic or acute in their presentation and are often very painful. Structures that are most frequently injured because of knee hyperextension are the infrapatella fat pad (IPFP) or in the event of an acute hyperextension injury (for example when being handled in rugby) trauma to the anterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and/or the posterior lateral corner (PLC) of the knee. This article will talk about both chronic and acute hyperextension injuries of the knee. Additionally, it will outline the anatomy of this infrapatella fat pad, the PCL and the posterolateral corner (PLC). Injury mechanics will be discussed in addition to treatment options.

Infrapatella Fat Pad

Anatomy

The infrapatella fat pad is an extrasynovial structure which sits on the anterior aspect of the knee only distal to the patella. It is portable and its form, pressure and quantity all alter with knee movement(two) It is attached anteriorly to the proximal aspect of the patella tendon and inferior pole of the patella and posteriorly it attaches to the intercondylar notch of the femur and in some people the ACL(2) (see Figure 1).

It is a richly vascularized arrangement and is innervated by branches of the obturator, saphenous and common peroneal nerve(2). Its nociceptive fibers are most dense in the central and lateral parts(two).

Mechanism Of Injury

Both of these conditions can be quite painful and debilitating. These customers will frequently have knees that hyperextend and may walk with inadequate quad core control and knee hyperextension. The IPFP can also be injured by trauma to the knee. This may either be through blunt effect or through shear injury with a patella dislocation or ACL rupture. Iatrogenic causes also have been clarified as a result of location of arthroscopy portals and possible for fibrosis.

Assessment

On evaluation a patient with a disorder of the IPFP will often clarify a sharp, burning and or aching pain profound and on each side of the patella tendon. Pain- provocative activities include maximal knee extension or actions that need active knee extension, moving upstairs or prolonged knee flexion(1).

Several clinical evaluations are used to differentially diagnose IPFP disorders from other pathologies about the knee.

Patients with IPFP ailments will often have swelling inferior to the patella and may describe that they have “bloated” knees (see Figure 2).

Objective tests include:

Imaging

Treatment

Disorders of the IPFP most commonly respond quite well to traditional therapy. The main goal of treatment is to de-load the fat pad to reduce pain and permit quadriceps strengthening to occur. Fat pad de-loading tape ought to be educated to the patient so continual impingement of the fat pad is prevented (see Figure 4). Both posture and gait retraining should occur early so knee hyperextension is averted during these actions. Muscle retraining ought to be based around quadriceps strengthening exercises particularly in closed kinetic chain rankings. Exercises which can be beneficial in the rehabilitation process include wall squats, splits squats, squats but exercises that involve complete knee extension should be avoided.

In the elite athlete where resting from instruction is tough, a CSI may be practical to help decrease pain.

The PCL, though most commonly injured when the knee is flexed, may also be hurt in a forced hyperextension of the knee (rugby tackle). It’s been estimated that about 60% of PCL injuries also have the posterolateral corner and this may be higher in injuries that demand knee hyperextension(1).

Anatomy

It comprises of an anterolateral bundle which can be most tight in knee flexion and a posteromedial package which is tight in extension(3). The posterolateral corner (PLC) consists of their poplitues muscle, the lateral collateral ligament, bicep femoris tendons along with also the popliteofibular ligament (see Figure 5). Isolated harm to the PLC is rare but is frequently associated with PCL injuries.

Assessment

The patient with PCL injury will frequently complain of poorly defined knee pain and often with minimal swelling. Several tests are Utilized to help determine whether harm to the PCL exists:

PCL injuries are rated from 1-3 and are best quantified with the knee in 90-degree flexion in which the tibia normally lies 1cm anterior to the femoral condyles. The grading process is outlined below:

As stated before, injuries to the posterolateral corner may also occur with injury to the PCL once the knee is hyperextended. Several tests have been described to help identify if a posterolateral corner injury is present:

Gait assessment also needs to be undertaken and those patients with instability of their posterolateral corner have varus gapping in foot attack when their knee is extended.

Imaging

PCL and PLC injuries generally occur in the acute injury. In case of a substantial acute injury x-rays could be warranted to rule out bony avulsion of the PCL from its tibial insertion. If this is present then surgical repair should be undertaken. MRI might again be beneficial to identify PCL and PLC accidents.

Treatment

Results reveal that patients with isolated PCL tears have a fantastic functional outcome (even though continuing laxity) with a structured rehabilitation program. The literature does suggest, however, that PCL lack does lead to greater joint contact pressure on both the patellofemoral and tibiofemoral joints. Surgery is indicated if PCL injury happens in combination with other structures (including PLC) or even if important instability exists. If the PCL injury is important (grade 3) then the customer should be immobilized in extension for 2 months(1). If a slight injury (grade 1-2), then a graduated rehab program ought to be commenced with specific emphasis on quadriceps strengthening. Table 1 outlines a rehabilitation program following a regular 1-2 PCL injury. These timeframes should be used as a guide only and progression throughout the rehabilitation program should be decided by the customer’s ability as opposed to a predetermined timeframe.

Conclusion

Hyperextension injuries at the knee may not occur commonly but may be significant. Unless multiple constructions have been hurt, a well-structured rehab program gives very good results.

References
1. Brukner and Khan (2012) Clinical Sports Medicine 4th Edition. McGraw Hill.
2. Dragoo J, Johnson C, McConnell J (2012) Evaluation and treatment of disorders of the infrapatella fat pad. Sports Medicine. 42 (1) 51-67.
3. Grassmayr M, Parker D, Coolican M, Vanwanseele B (2008) Posterior cruciate ligament deficiency: Biomechanical and biological consequences and the outcomes of conservative treatment A systematic review. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 11 433-443.