Symptoms of knee ligament injury

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on September 15, 2024
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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.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Post-symptoms of knee ligament injury

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 Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How to treat patellar ligament injury?

First, it is necessary to qualitatively assess the injury of the patellar ligament, determining whether it is a partial or complete rupture, whether it is a simple rupture, or a compound rupture, the latter involving other injuries such as fractures or joint dislocations. The treatment of patellar ligament injuries, like other tendon injuries, follows the principle of "three earlies": early diagnosis, early treatment, and early rehabilitation. Early diagnosis has been mentioned before. Early treatment means that if surgery is needed, it should be conducted as soon as possible, as earlier surgeries often result in better postoperative recoveries. If surgery is not required, an immediate fixation with a cast or brace should be applied to keep the knee joint in an extended position, and this fixation should be maintained for three to four weeks. The third step is early rehabilitation. As the knee joint is immobilized during the fixation period, and pain and swelling starts to decrease, early functional exercises should be initiated, focusing on distal joint movement and muscular isotonic exercises, but avoiding flexion and extension movements of the knee joint. Early rehabilitation primarily aims to prevent muscle atrophy, prevent joint adhesion, and promote recovery from the condition.

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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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What foods to eat for ligament damage

After a ligament injury, there often is bleeding at the site of the injury, which can lead to swelling, pain, and other issues. From a Western medicine perspective, there are no special dietary requirements; generally, one can follow their usual diet prior to the injury. However, if you had a preference for very salty or spicy foods before the injury, it is recommended to avoid overly spicy and salty foods afterwards. It may be beneficial to eat foods rich in vitamin C and high-quality proteins to potentially aid in wound healing.

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Written by Zhang Ying Peng
Orthopedics
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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.