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

Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

Updated on January 06, 2025

00:00

00:00

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.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Wang Jing

Pediatric Orthopedics

43sec

home-news-image

Can I drink yogurt with a ligament injury?

After a ligament injury, the treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury. However, in the acute phase, the main treatments include immobilization and elevation of the affected limb. As for what medications to take or what foods to eat to promote healing of a ligament injury, currently, there are no foods found to have a significant promoting effect on ligament recovery, nor are there common everyday foods that hinder ligament repair. Of course, we still recommend avoiding spicy foods. Therefore, after a ligament injury, it is okay to drink yogurt. There are no contraindications with yogurt, nor is there evidence that yogurt has any beneficial effects on ligament repair.

home-news-image

Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 17sec

home-news-image

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.

home-news-image

Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

56sec

home-news-image

Symptoms of femoral head ligament injury

The clinical symptoms of a femoral head ligament injury mainly manifest as significant local pain. Severe cases may affect the patient's joint mobility and normal ability to move about, which are the clinical manifestations of a femoral head ligament injury. Usually, within a recent period, it is necessary to strictly rest in bed to protect the area, reducing local stimulation, which is the best condition for patient recovery. If the patient is not allergic to plasters, topical plasters that invigorate blood and dissolve stasis can be used, along with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving drugs, and drugs that invigorate blood and dissolve stasis for treatment. After 48 hours post-injury, local heat application should be actively performed. Most patients will gradually recover through these active treatment methods. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Wang Jing

Pediatric Orthopedics

44sec

home-news-image

Can a ligament injury cause the knee to make noise?

Whether the knee will make noise after ligament damage depends on the condition of the ligament damage. If it is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, generally the knee will not make noise. However, if the anterior cruciate ligament injury is combined with damage to the meniscus or cartilage, forming loose bodies, popping noises in the knee joint can occur. If there is damage to the medial or lateral collateral ligaments of the knee joint, which causes instability in the knee joint, this can also lead to popping sounds. If instability of the patella is caused by damage to the patellar ligament of the knee joint, changes in the alignment of the patellar joint during movement can also cause popping noises in the knee joint.

home-news-image

Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 6sec

home-news-image

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.