What should I do if I have a knee ligament injury?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on January 06, 2025
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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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What is the best way to recover from meniscus injury and ligament tear with conservative treatment?

For a meniscus injury and ligament tear in the knee joint, if the condition is not very severe, we can manage it with conservative treatment. This means using immobilization, physical therapy, heat application, and anti-inflammatory pain relief. If the knee has been immobilized for a period, say two months, it will obviously become somewhat stiff. In this case, if rehabilitation is to be performed, the first step should be to seek guidance at a formal rehabilitation medical institution. If a therapist is available to assist with training, that would be the ideal best case scenario. If no therapist is available, care must be taken during activities not to excessively tear the healed ligaments or meniscus. During the rehabilitation process, when performing bending and flexing exercises, it's crucial to be mindful of the extent of movement. Additionally, it's important to consistently strengthen the quadriceps muscles.

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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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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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What supplements are good for ligament injuries?

Patients with ligament injuries are advised to consume more foods containing high-quality protein, such as beef, eggs, and milk. However, it is not recommended to eat high-calorie, high-nutrient foods, such as sea cucumber and abalone. Ligaments are important structures that connect two bones at the joint. Once a ligament is injured, it can only recover under strict rest, which may involve immobilization with plaster casts and bed rest. After a ligament rupture, a great amount of energy is consumed during the healing process. It is crucial to balance meat and vegetables in the diet and maintain nutritional balance. It is suggested to appropriately increase the intake of high-quality protein foods, such as beef, eggs, and milk, but it is not advised to consume high-calorie, high-nutrient foods, like sea cucumber and abalone.

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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.