Symptoms of knee ligament injury

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on September 15, 2024
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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 Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What should I do if the ligaments in the knee joint are injured?

Knee ligament injuries first require us to determine which ligament is damaged. The injury mechanism can help determine which ligament is affected, such as an inversion or eversion injury of the knee, which could cause damage to the medial or lateral collateral ligaments of the knee. Sometimes, knee flexion and rotation injuries may damage the cruciate ligaments of the knee. Once the specific ligament is identified, the extent of the injury must be determined. If the injury is minor, such as a contusion, rest may allow the ligament to gradually recover. If there is a tear, but the knee joint is still stable, conservative treatment can be pursued; however, if there is a tear and the knee joint is unstable, or if the ligament is completely ruptured, we recommend surgical repair to restore the stability of the knee joint.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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What should I do if I have a knee ligament injury?

Ligament injuries in the knee are commonly seen in two areas: the first is the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and the second is the medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury. The treatment for these two ligament injuries is the same; for instance, in cases of just a simple ligament tear or partial tear, it only requires the use of a plaster cast for external fixation, and immobilization for three to four weeks can achieve recovery. If there is a complete tear, surgery might be needed. There are two types of surgeries: the first one involves direct repair of the ligament, the second involves using autologous tendons to reconstruct the ligament, restoring the stability of the entire knee joint. To determine whether you have a tear, complete tear, or partial tear, it is necessary to undergo an MRI of the knee to confirm.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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How to recover from ligament damage

Recovery from ligament damage should be divided into two phases. The first phase is the acute phase of the ligament injury, which generally occurs within three weeks after the injury. During these three weeks, it is recommended to immobilize and minimize movement to create favorable conditions for the growth and repair of the ligament. During this period, heat application can be beneficial, and oral medications that promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis, reduce swelling, and relieve pain can be taken to facilitate the repair of the ligament. After three weeks, the continuity of the ligament is usually established. During this period, it is necessary to enhance functional exercises to prevent joint adhesion. Under the guidance of a physician, joint movements should be strengthened, combined with oral medications for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, reducing swelling, and relieving pain, and also include local heat application and possibly physical therapy. With these comprehensive treatment measures, generally, a good recovery outcome can be achieved.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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How to recover from collateral ligament injury of the knee joint

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 Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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Can a ligament injury cause the knee to make noise?

Whether the knee will make noise after ligament damage depends on the condition of the ligament damage. If it is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, generally the knee will not make noise. However, if the anterior cruciate ligament injury is combined with damage to the meniscus or cartilage, forming loose bodies, popping noises in the knee joint can occur. If there is damage to the medial or lateral collateral ligaments of the knee joint, which causes instability in the knee joint, this can also lead to popping sounds. If instability of the patella is caused by damage to the patellar ligament of the knee joint, changes in the alignment of the patellar joint during movement can also cause popping noises in the knee joint.