A dislocated kneecap can be a superficial injury that heals on its own, but it can also impose a need for more medical intervention.
It can often occur as a result of a direct blow to the knee or a sudden change in walking direction when your leg is planted to the ground.
A dislocated knee is often visible and comes with some amounts of pain. If you suffer from one, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
How a Kneecap Dislocation Is Treated
In severe cases, a kneecap dislocation requires a doctor to put it back into place, and you may also be given some pain medication to make sure the procedure doesn’t cause any other damages by you flinching or moving during it.
Once the doctor does this, you may need an X-ray to see if the bones are in their correct position and if there is any other damage. Additionally, you may also need to be on bed rest for a while, or even need some therapy to properly heal.
In other cases, you may also require surgery, but this is generally only if the kneecap dislocation has caused additional damage such as ligament tear.
How to Get Compensated
Emergency care, painkillers, bed rest, therapy – these are all things you may be dealing with after a knee cap dislocation. If the injury took place because of your job, then it will generally be covered by workers’ compensation in the state of Missouri.
However, you should know that in Missouri, your employer has the right to choose your doctor, so if you first get medical attention, then file a claim, it’s possible the insurance company will deny these costs. An exception is made for emergency medical care, where you realistically can’t want for the approval of the insurance company or your employer in order to receive medical treatment.
As a result, you should take the following steps:
- Inform your employer of your injury and file the claim immediately. By law, you cannot file a claim if more than 30 days have passed from the moment of the accident. If you get emergency care, notify your employer immediately.
- Your employer or insurance company will then recommend a doctor. Be sure to follow their treatment plan, as any irregularity can be cause to terminate the benefits.
- Reach out to a St. Louis work injury lawyer for help with filing the claim and legal protection against any wrongdoings.
Why Should You Work with a Lawyer?
Workers comp laws a rather complicated, and a small mistake made on your part or even your employer’s part could potentially hurt your claim. As a result, it’s best to get in touch with a St. Louis workers compensation attorney for legal advice on how to proceed, to make sure you don’t hit any legal bumps along the way. For a FREE case evaluation, call the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann 24/7 at (314) 361-4300.