Symptoms of ligament rupture

Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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After a ligament rupture, the area will experience pain, swelling, and restricted movement, and it will not be possible to actively extend or bend. Taking the rupture of the finger extensor tendon as an example, after the rupture caused by accidental bumps or other reasons, the site exhibits pain and cannot be straightened. When passively straightened, it will flex on its own after removing the support, unable to actively extend. These are the symptoms of functional limitation after a ligament rupture. Furthermore, some patients may also experience persistent local pain and significant swelling. At this time, it is advisable to combine local hot compresses and physical therapy. For distal finger extensor tendon ruptures, hyperextension fixation can be applied. About four weeks later, if the hyperextension fixation splint or plaster is removed, some patients can heal on their own. However, if some patients cannot heal naturally, surgical anastomosis treatment is required.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
53sec home-news-image

How to recover from ligament damage

For patients with ligament injuries, it is first necessary to determine the severity of the ligament damage in order to establish an active treatment plan to promote rapid repair of the ligament. If the ligament injury is relatively mild and joint stability is good, it is entirely possible for such patients to choose active conservative treatment. It is necessary to strictly use plaster casts or supportive external fixation. During this period, treatment can include oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medication as well as drugs that promote blood circulation and disperse blood stasis. For those with more severe ligament injuries and poor joint stability, it becomes necessary to actively proceed with surgical treatment, which might involve repairing or reconstructing the damaged ligament. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
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Written by Guan Jing Tao
Orthopedics
1min home-news-image

Symptoms of ligament rupture

After a ligament rupture, the area will experience pain, swelling, and restricted movement, and it will not be possible to actively extend or bend. Taking the rupture of the finger extensor tendon as an example, after the rupture caused by accidental bumps or other reasons, the site exhibits pain and cannot be straightened. When passively straightened, it will flex on its own after removing the support, unable to actively extend. These are the symptoms of functional limitation after a ligament rupture. Furthermore, some patients may also experience persistent local pain and significant swelling. At this time, it is advisable to combine local hot compresses and physical therapy. For distal finger extensor tendon ruptures, hyperextension fixation can be applied. About four weeks later, if the hyperextension fixation splint or plaster is removed, some patients can heal on their own. However, if some patients cannot heal naturally, surgical anastomosis treatment is required.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
57sec home-news-image

How long does it take for a triangular ligament injury to heal?

The deltoid ligament, as a very important structure on the medial side of the ankle joint, is mainly divided into superficial and deep layers. The superficial layer generally originates from the anterior colliculus of the medial malleolus and is more superficial, making it more susceptible to injury. The deep layer originates from the posterior colliculus of the medial malleolus and is tightly connected with the talus bone, meaning that any injury likely involved significant force. Moreover, once injured, it cannot self-repair except through surgery. So, how long does it take for a deltoid ligament injury to heal? For superficial injuries, with proper immobilization or surgical repair, recovery typically takes about three weeks. For deep injuries, surgical repair can be challenging, and reconstruction is often required, extending the healing time to about six weeks or even three months.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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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.