Knee fractures occur when one or more of the bones in the knee joint break or crack. The severity of knee fractures can range from minor bends and small cracks to more significant fractures when the bone is shattered or breaks through the surface of the skin.

Regardless of how the injury occurs, knee fractures can cause pain, bruising, and swelling. Other symptoms include tenderness, limited range of motion or difficulty bending the knee, pain that intensifies when moving the knee, and noticeable deformities in the shape of the leg.