Acute injuries can involve various structures around the knee, however the immediate treatment principles will apply to most situations. Obviously if a fracture (broken bone) is suspected then you must go straight to casualty for investigation.
Damage to the ‘soft tissues’ (ligaments, muscles, tendons, joint capsule etc) will cause inflammation, which is your body’s natural response to injury and provides the necessary environment for healing. The healing process can be divided into three phases: