Miners Knee Injury Solicitors - Compensation Claim Lawyers

LAWYER HELPLINE: ☎ 1800 633 090

Miners are prone to knee injuries and degenerative changes due to wear and tear from daily work activities. If you are suffering from a knee injury, meniscal tear, bursitis or osteoarthritis as a result of your occupational activities in the mining sector, you should seek legal advice on how to claim workers compensation. Our knee injury solicitors are highly experienced at handling personal injury claims on behalf of miners. For legal advice and No Win No Fee representation, call our helpline or complete our online contact form or email our solicitors offices and our legal team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a disease characterised by destruction of the cartilage surrounding the knee joints and various alterations to the bone and the joint space between bones. Mining activities often involve kneeling and squatting while undertaking heavy manual tasks (such as lifting or shovelling) which lead to wear and tear of the knee joint. Prolonged physical stresses on the knee joint, or injury to the knee cartilage (meniscus) renders the joint more vulnerable to wear and tear. Research suggests that miners have greater than doubled risk of osteoarthritis of the knees.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include reduced mobility, knee pain, knee swelling and stiffness. Pathological changes may be seen on radio-graphs, such as joint space narrowing, new bone formation and bone thickening. Treatment options include analgesic and anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy, functional aids and surgery. Advanced cases require surgical knee joint replacement.

Meniscal Tears

The menisci are made of tough cartilage. The medial meniscus is on the inside of the knee; the lateral meniscus rests on the outside of the knee. Tears of the meniscus can be caused by acute trauma to the knee. The most common mechanism of a traumatic meniscus tear occurs when the knee joint is bent and the knee is then twisted.

Symptoms of a meniscal tear are: knee pain, swelling of the knee, tenderness when pressing on the meniscus, popping or clicking sounds within the knee and limited motion of the knee joint. A meniscal tear may be diagnosed through x-rays and MRI scans. The type of treatment received depends on the type of meniscal injury. Nonsurgical treatments include rest, ice, compression, elevation, and physical therapy. Surgery (a meniscectomy) may be necessary in severe cases. Surgery should be done arthroscopically (keyhole surgery) wherever possible, instead of a large cut in the knee.

Meniscal injuries are quite common in miners. One study indicated that miners aged 25-54 years were 4-5 times as likely to require meniscectomy than other men.

Knee Bursitis

A bursa is a thin sack filled with the body's own natural lubricating fluid. It acts as a cushion between bones, tendons and ligaments. The bursa in the knee can become swollen, inflamed and painful as a result of overuse, a direct blow to the area or from frequent kneeling. This condition is known as bursitis. The most common form of knee bursitis is pre-patellar bursitis. Miners are prone to suffering bursitis of the knee, especially when working in underground coal mines where kneeling and crawling may be involved.

Initial treatment of bursitis is rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Aspiration of the bursa and injections of steroid into the bursa may be necessary. Finally, if the bursa keeps recurring then arthroscopic or open removal may be necessary.

LAWYER HELPLINE: ☎ 1800 633 090