I fell and my knee became swollen and painful. What should I do?

Swollen and painful knees after falling are common in life, especially for the elderly. As they age, their bones become fragile and they are easily injured by falls. At this time, you need to pay attention to timely resolution, apply iodine solution externally, and pay attention to local wound cleaning to avoid rheumatic diseases.

1. Apply iodine solution (not iodine tincture) externally to wipe off blood and secretions from the wound, 3 to 4 times a day, leaving the wound exposed. After 24 hours, the exudate will gradually decrease and the number of disinfection times can be reduced accordingly. If dressing is applied, change the dressing frequently.

2. Scabbing will begin in 3 to 5 days, and there will be itching, which is normal. If the scab affects joint movement, erythromycin ointment can be used instead to soften the scab to prevent it from accidentally cracking during knee joint movement and delaying healing.

3. If the knee joint is obviously swollen, you should go to the hospital for examination to see if there is any fracture or ligament injury.

4. Use complex iodine or hydrogen peroxide to rinse the wound and clean the dirt on the damaged skin to prevent dirt from remaining in the wound and affecting wound healing. Secondly, within 24 hours of injury, it is best to use ice water, ice cubes or cold water to apply to the wound to reduce the continued blood seepage from the tissue. After 24 hours, start using hot water to promote the reabsorption of blood stasis. If the skin is damaged, it is recommended that you use erythromycin ointment or Yunnan Baiyao powder to apply to the wound. At the same time, keep the wound dry and clean to prevent infection. The diet should be light, not too greasy or spicy. Pay attention to rest and avoid excessive fatigue.