Posttraumatic Arthritis In cases when there is an injury where the bone and cartilage of the knee do not heal properly post-traumatic arthritis may develop. These abnormalities may lead to extra wear on the joint surface and even the development of osteoarthritis.                     Symptoms               Oftentimes the signs are pain in the knee joint, stiffness and swelling with pain and swelling being worse in the morning or after a period of inactivity. As the cartilage wears and the bones of the joint rub against each other, the pain can become more severe and constant, interfering with daily activities. Also, pain may increase after walking, climbing stairs or kneeling along with a feeling of weakness or “buckling” of the knee. [ Back ]