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Ligament injury
Ligament injuries should be seen by the orthopedics department.
Ligament injuries are often a type of sports injury; therefore, when a ligament injury occurs, the first choice is usually a department of sports medicine. However, many hospitals do not have a sports medicine department. In such cases, ligament injuries are generally treated under orthopedic surgery. If the hospital does not have a sports medicine department, you can visit the orthopedic surgery department. If there is no orthopedic surgery department either, and it is just a general orthopedics clinic, you can go to the orthopedics clinic. Of course, if it is a smaller hospital without a specialized orthopedics clinic, you can visit the surgery department or the emergency surgery department. After some initial treatment, you may need to visit a more specialized hospital for further medical attention.
Do ligament injuries fear the cold?
Ligament injuries should not naturally be sensitive to cold; however, due to impaired blood circulation in the damaged area or poor blood supply due to scar repair, the circulation in the injured tendons becomes worse compared to other areas. In cold conditions, this can lead to even poorer blood flow. When circulation is poor, it's hard for metabolic byproducts to be removed from the area, leading to their accumulation, which can stimulate the injured site and cause pain. Therefore, areas with ligament injuries often become sensitive to cold, as the cold causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to the accumulation of metabolic by-products and resulting in pain at the affected site.
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.
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.
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.