How to recover from collateral ligament injury of the knee joint

Written by Lv Yao

Orthopedics

Updated on September 24, 2024

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The knee joint has important ligaments on both the inner and outer sides, known as the medial collateral ligament and the lateral collateral ligament. In sports injuries, collateral ligament damage of the knee is very common. If there is an injury, the first step is to conduct a series of examinations to determine the stability of the knee joint. The damage to these ligaments can range from tears to complete ruptures. If there is only a contusion or a tear, the knee can recover its function through the use of supportive braces and the natural healing of the ligament. However, if the collateral ligament is completely ruptured, surgery is necessary for repair. The specific extent of the damage needs to be determined by MRI and physical examinations to decide the best treatment approach for the patient's recovery.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua

Orthopedic Surgery

48sec

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Symptoms of knee ligament injury

The ligaments in the knee joint are quite complex, often resulting from trauma, strain injuries, or lateral impacts. Symptoms such as reluctance to move the knee, pain, and worsened pain after movement usually necessitate a hospital examination. Lateral stress tests examine the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, drawer tests check the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and pivot shift tests or squat walking tests assess the meniscus. If necessary, an MRI is performed for diagnosis. Early detection and treatment are crucial. If trauma is frequent, or instability after injury occurs, one should seek hospital examination. Ligament damage often heals slowly, typically taking around a month to fully recover.

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Written by Wang Jing

Pediatric Orthopedics

55sec

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Are calcium tablets useful for ligament injuries?

Calcium supplements do not have a significant effect on the repair of ligament injuries. There are established principles for dealing with ligament injuries. Generally, for minor injuries, reducing movement and stabilizing the affected limb are recommended to allow the ligaments to heal on their own. In cases of severe ligament injuries, such as significant or complete tears that affect joint stability, surgical repair or reconstruction may be necessary. Of course, in the most severe cases, ligament injuries can be accompanied by fractures or other concurrent injuries. While healing fractures require calcium, and during these times the calcium from calcium supplements can serve as a source for fracture repair, typically the calcium intake from a daily diet is sufficient to meet the needs during fracture healing. Therefore, taking calcium supplements for ligament injuries does not have a significant effect.

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Written by Wang Jing

Pediatric Orthopedics

1min 3sec

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The difference between ligament damage and tears.

For doctors, the damage or tearing of ligaments actually means more or less the same thing, but for ordinary people, there always seems to be a difference between the two, feeling that the range covered by ligament damage is broader than that of ligament tearing. From a medical perspective, ligament damage is divided into four grades. The first grade is a sprain, which is a partial fiber break. The second type is a partial ligament rupture, the third type is a complete ligament rupture, and the fourth type involves a complete rupture of the ligament with damage to other parts as well. This is the four-category classification of ligament damage. Ordinary people might think that ligament tearing refers to either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament, which is the more serious kind. Therefore, though these two concepts are relatively similar in meaning, ordinary people might feel that ligament tearing is relatively more severe, consisting of either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament.

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Written by Wang Fei

Orthopedics

44sec

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How long will it take for a ligament sprain and soft tissue injury to fully heal?

Ligament strains or soft tissue injuries are common in everyday life, and they also typically require grading. Some minor ligament strains or soft tissue injuries generally heal after about three weeks of rest and immobilization. If a ligament strain or soft tissue injury is very severe, such as when the ligament has reached the level of tearing, or if there is significant bleeding, edema, and swelling at the time of the injury, this indicates a very serious soft tissue injury. In such cases, the duration of immobilization might be much longer, possibly around six weeks. The recovery time for such soft tissue injuries or ligament strains can also be very lengthy, sometimes extending up to three months or even six months.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 28sec

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What should I do if the patellar ligament is injured?

Once a patellar ligament injury occurs, the first step is to immobilize the area; stop all activities to prevent further damage and secondary injuries. Secondly, apply ice. The initial ice application should last from half an hour to an hour, applied directly to the injured patellar ligament. Thirdly, bandage to immobilize the area, primarily using an elastic bandage and cotton padding to compress the knee joint. This can help stop bleeding and limit swelling. Fourth, elevate the injured limb to at least 30 degrees above the level of the heart. After these measures, it's necessary to go to the hospital for further examination including physical assessments by a doctor, X-rays, or an MRI to fully understand the extent of the ligament damage. If there is a partial tear of the ligament without complete discontinuity, conservative treatment such as casting or bracing can be effective, typically for three to four weeks. However, if the ligament is completely torn and surgery is clearly indicated, surgical treatment should be followed by the use of a brace for six weeks. Thus, proper early management of a patellar ligament injury is crucial, followed by hospital evaluation. Additionally, since patellar ligament injuries often coincide with fractures or damage to other structures such as the meniscus or cruciate ligaments, these factors cannot be overlooked.