Symptoms of fibular ligament injury

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on November 17, 2024
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The symptoms of fibular ligament damage include, first, pain, especially noticeable tenderness or pain around the fibula when bearing weight, which can further affect weight-bearing walking. Second, swelling can occur, particularly after prolonged weight-bearing walking, leading to localized swelling that gradually subsides with rest. Third, joint instability can also occur as the stability of the entire joint deteriorates after ligament damage, resulting in instability during prolonged weight-bearing activities, and in severe cases, affecting joint mobility and damaging the joint cartilage.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What should I do if the patellar ligament is injured?

Once a patellar ligament injury occurs, the first step is to immobilize the area; stop all activities to prevent further damage and secondary injuries. Secondly, apply ice. The initial ice application should last from half an hour to an hour, applied directly to the injured patellar ligament. Thirdly, bandage to immobilize the area, primarily using an elastic bandage and cotton padding to compress the knee joint. This can help stop bleeding and limit swelling. Fourth, elevate the injured limb to at least 30 degrees above the level of the heart. After these measures, it's necessary to go to the hospital for further examination including physical assessments by a doctor, X-rays, or an MRI to fully understand the extent of the ligament damage. If there is a partial tear of the ligament without complete discontinuity, conservative treatment such as casting or bracing can be effective, typically for three to four weeks. However, if the ligament is completely torn and surgery is clearly indicated, surgical treatment should be followed by the use of a brace for six weeks. Thus, proper early management of a patellar ligament injury is crucial, followed by hospital evaluation. Additionally, since patellar ligament injuries often coincide with fractures or damage to other structures such as the meniscus or cruciate ligaments, these factors cannot be overlooked.

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Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Wang Jing
Pediatric Orthopedics
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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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The difference between ligament damage and tears.

For doctors, the damage or tearing of ligaments actually means more or less the same thing, but for ordinary people, there always seems to be a difference between the two, feeling that the range covered by ligament damage is broader than that of ligament tearing. From a medical perspective, ligament damage is divided into four grades. The first grade is a sprain, which is a partial fiber break. The second type is a partial ligament rupture, the third type is a complete ligament rupture, and the fourth type involves a complete rupture of the ligament with damage to other parts as well. This is the four-category classification of ligament damage. Ordinary people might think that ligament tearing refers to either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament, which is the more serious kind. Therefore, though these two concepts are relatively similar in meaning, ordinary people might feel that ligament tearing is relatively more severe, consisting of either a partial or complete rupture of the ligament.