Post-symptoms of knee ligament injury

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 16, 2024
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The knee joint has four crucial ligaments: the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments. They act like four pillars, firmly anchoring the knee joint in a very stable and normal position. If any of these ligaments rupture, this balance is disrupted, causing the knee to move abnormally in a certain direction, leading to increased local wear and tear or compensatory wear in other parts. Therefore, if ligament damage is not repaired, and the balance is disrupted, it can lead to many complications or sequelae. The first is traumatic arthritis. The second is patellar chondromalacia. The third is meniscus damage. The fourth is damage to other ligaments, or even rupture. The fifth is knee arthritis, also known as OA, or degenerative changes. The sixth is knee effusion and synovitis. Thus, the sequelae of knee ligament injuries are numerous and troublesome.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
54sec home-news-image

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.

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

Ankle ligament sprains vary in prognosis depending on the severity of the injury. This type of ligament damage generally falls into several categories: the first type is partial fiber damage to the ligament, the second type is partial rupture of the ligament, the third type is complete rupture of the ligament, and the fourth type includes additional injuries. For partial fiber damage and partial ruptures of the ligament, immobilization is often used, and generally after six to eight weeks, the ligament can repair itself. However, if there is a complete rupture of the ligament or additional injuries are involved, surgery is often required for healing.

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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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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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What medicine is good for ligament injury?

Ligament injuries first require assessment of whether the damage is acute or chronic before considering medications. For acute ligament injuries, there are key principles to follow. First, the injured area must rest and the joint should no longer be active. Second, immediately apply cold compresses. The temperature of the ice-water mixture touching the skin should be between 4℃ to 10℃. Apply the cold compress for about 10 to 15 minutes, generally not exceeding 20 minutes. If there is severe swelling, you can continue to apply cold compresses two hours later. Then, elevate the patient's limb and apply compression bandaging to the injured site, which forms the treatment principles for acute ligament injuries. For chronic ligament injuries, different situations require different approaches. For ligament injuries that do not affect joint stability, some topical medications can be used. This can include traditional Chinese medicines or anti-inflammatory and analgesic patches, which mainly improve local blood circulation and reduce local chronic inflammation. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)