Can ligament damage be treated with a block injection?

Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
Updated on January 11, 2025
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After ligament injury, the acute phase management mainly involves protection, elevation, avoiding the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs, compression, and patient education, and, of course, appropriate use of cold compresses. In the subacute phase, when there is no pain, some load can be added appropriately, maintaining an optimistic attitude, engaging in aerobic exercise to improve local blood circulation, and early activity should focus on practice as well as exercise in muscle strength and proprioception. Of course, in severe cases where the ligament injury is completely ruptured, affecting stability, consideration must be given to ligament repair or reconstruction. But for acute cases, there is definitely no need for cortisone injections. For chronic ligament injuries, with long-term chronic pain around the joint, conservative treatment and other methods are ineffective, local injections may be considered. However, it is advisable not to inject the injured ligament itself but rather the synovial sheath or other soft tissues surrounding the ligament, as this can reduce the damage of the injection drugs to the ligament. (Use of specific medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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How to operate on ligament damage

Ligament injuries that affect joint stability require surgery, and different locations necessitate different surgical methods. Generally, for ligaments within a joint, such as the anterior cruciate ligament or the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee, reconstruction is performed using either autografts, allografts, or synthetic tendons to replace the original damaged ligaments. For ligaments outside of a joint, such as the medial collateral ligament, lateral collateral ligament of the knee, or the anterior talofibular ligament of the ankle, if the joint stability is compromised, suturing is generally performed during the acute phase. For chronic, long-standing injuries that affect joint stability, reconstruction is usually necessary, also using autografts, allografts, or synthetic tendons to substitute their function.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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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.)

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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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 Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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Can ligament damage be treated with a block injection?

After ligament injury, the acute phase management mainly involves protection, elevation, avoiding the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs, compression, and patient education, and, of course, appropriate use of cold compresses. In the subacute phase, when there is no pain, some load can be added appropriately, maintaining an optimistic attitude, engaging in aerobic exercise to improve local blood circulation, and early activity should focus on practice as well as exercise in muscle strength and proprioception. Of course, in severe cases where the ligament injury is completely ruptured, affecting stability, consideration must be given to ligament repair or reconstruction. But for acute cases, there is definitely no need for cortisone injections. For chronic ligament injuries, with long-term chronic pain around the joint, conservative treatment and other methods are ineffective, local injections may be considered. However, it is advisable not to inject the injured ligament itself but rather the synovial sheath or other soft tissues surrounding the ligament, as this can reduce the damage of the injection drugs to the ligament. (Use of specific medications should be under the guidance of a physician.)

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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.