Traumatic injuries of the knee ligament
Ligament injuries in the knee can be severely painful and can even permanently change the ability to move properly. Nowadays treatment has become much more successful and the prognosis is positive for many injuries. Ligaments are bands of tissue connecting the bones in the leg. There are two important ligaments in the knee: the ACL and PCL – anterior and posterior cruciate ligament. They connect the femur or thigh bone with the tibia, one of the bones of the lower leg. Too much stress on the ligaments can cause stretching or even snapping.
Read more about ACL in MediKa.bg
Main causes for ACL injuries and other ligament issues are:
• Knee twisting
• Knee getting hit
• Extending the knee
• Jumping on and/or landing on a stretched (flexed) knee
• Sudden stop with high impact
• Shifting the body weight very rapidly from one leg to the other
Traumatic injuries of the knee ligament are common in impact and contact sports: soccer, football, basketball, skiers, gymnastics, etc.
These ligaments in the knee are prone to trauma and contusions:
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, strain or sprain is indeed a very common injury. ACL is one of the major ligaments in the knee. Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is the second major ligament in the knee. It’s connecting the thigh bone to the shin bone. Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) connects the thigh bone to the fibula, the smaller bone of the lower leg on the lateral or outer side of the knee. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) also connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the medial or in side of the knee.
Symptoms
Some of the most wide-spread symptoms of a knee ligament injury are:
• Sudden and severe pain
• Hearing a loud pop or snap during the injury
• Tenderness and swelling
• A very specific feeling of looseness in the knee joint
• Inability to put weight on the injured leg
Unfortunately, the cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) cannot be repaired. The only option is a surgical reconstruction - tendons are taken from other parts of your leg or a cadaver to replace the torn knee ligament.
A ligament reconstruction for an ACL or PCL injury is sometimes very complicated, and you should undergo medical exams and various consultations before an operation.
Prevention
Knee ligament injuries are hard to prevent since they're usually the result of an accident. But taking some precautions might lower your risks.
• Keep thigh muscles strong with regular stretching and strengthening exercises
• Warm up with light activities before sports and other activities
• Maintain flexibility
• Do not increase the intensity of your workout abruptly
Препоръчани клиники за такъв тип заболявания
