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 Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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What foods to eat for ligament damage

After a ligament injury, there often is bleeding at the site of the injury, which can lead to swelling, pain, and other issues. From a Western medicine perspective, there are no special dietary requirements; generally, one can follow their usual diet prior to the injury. However, if you had a preference for very salty or spicy foods before the injury, it is recommended to avoid overly spicy and salty foods afterwards. It may be beneficial to eat foods rich in vitamin C and high-quality proteins to potentially aid in wound healing.

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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 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 Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Can I walk if the ligament injury has been a month old?

If you can walk with a ligament rupture, it generally takes about four to six weeks. Ligament rupture usually requires surgical treatment because it can cause dysfunction of joint mobility, so it is mainly treated through surgical repair. Post-surgery, it generally requires immobilization and rest for about four to six weeks. During this time, under the guidance of a physician or physiotherapist, appropriate functional exercises should be performed. Normally, it takes more than four to six weeks to resume regular activities. Beginning functional rehabilitation exercises as soon as possible can help prevent complications such as joint stiffness and tendon adhesion, and promote recovery of function.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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Can ligament injuries heal by themselves?

Whether ligament injury can be healed depends on the severity of the injury. Generally, there are four types of ligament injuries. The mildest is a sprain, which is when some fibers of the ligament are torn. The second type is a partial tear of the ligament, the third type is a complete tear of the ligament, and the fourth type is a combined injury, which includes damage to other structures in addition to the ligament injury. If the ligament injury is just a sprain, it can generally heal within two to three weeks with immobilization. However, partial ligament tears that are more severe may require surgical intervention. If the partial ligament injury is not severe and does not affect stability, it can also heal with about three to six weeks of immobilization. However, complete ligament tears or combined injuries often require surgery for suturing or reconstruction in order to heal.