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 Fei
Orthopedics
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How long will it take for a ligament sprain and soft tissue injury to fully heal?

Ligament strains or soft tissue injuries are common in everyday life, and they also typically require grading. Some minor ligament strains or soft tissue injuries generally heal after about three weeks of rest and immobilization. If a ligament strain or soft tissue injury is very severe, such as when the ligament has reached the level of tearing, or if there is significant bleeding, edema, and swelling at the time of the injury, this indicates a very serious soft tissue injury. In such cases, the duration of immobilization might be much longer, possibly around six weeks. The recovery time for such soft tissue injuries or ligament strains can also be very lengthy, sometimes extending up to three months or even six months.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of ligament injury?

Ligament injuries may exhibit different symptoms depending on whether they are acute or chronic. Acute ligament injuries generally occur within one to three days after the injury. At this time, the main symptoms are caused by blood drawn from the injured ligament, leading to swelling, bruising, pain, and corresponding joint movement disorders at the injured site. Severe ligament injuries can even cause avulsion fractures. Chronic ligament injuries usually result from acute injuries that have not been properly treated. At this point, the main issues are joint instability and pain in the joint caused by long-term damage to the cartilage.

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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 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 Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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Symptoms of knee ligament injury

The ligaments in the knee joint are quite complex, often resulting from trauma, strain injuries, or lateral impacts. Symptoms such as reluctance to move the knee, pain, and worsened pain after movement usually necessitate a hospital examination. Lateral stress tests examine the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, drawer tests check the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and pivot shift tests or squat walking tests assess the meniscus. If necessary, an MRI is performed for diagnosis. Early detection and treatment are crucial. If trauma is frequent, or instability after injury occurs, one should seek hospital examination. Ligament damage often heals slowly, typically taking around a month to fully recover.