Ligament injuries: Specialists & information

Leading Medicine Guide Editors
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Leading Medicine Guide Editors

Ligament injuries are a common phenomenon. Active people and athletes are particularly at risk. Ligament injuries can also easily occur in everyday life: A wrong movement or a rough impact is often enough to lead to an overstretching or tear.

The following sections provide more information on the different types of injury, including treatment methods and chances of recovery. You can also find selected specialists for the treatment of ligament injuries.

ICD codes for this diseases: M24.2

Recommended specialists

Article overview

Ligament injuries: forms, characteristics & symptoms

Doctors differentiate between different types of ligament injuries:

  • Strain,
  • strain and
  • torn ligaments.

A ligament injury is defined as damage to the affected ligament that can be healed (reversible) or cannot be healed (irreversible). It is caused by trauma.

Depending on the type of injury, the ligament structures are either stretched or torn. The latter can be partial or complete. The result is pain and swelling in the affected region.

Doctors divide ligament injuries into three degrees of severity according to their severity:

  • Grade 1: Ligament stretching, where the chances of recovery are particularly good. The symptoms, such as pain and impaired movement, are limited.
  • Grade 2: Partial rupture with numerous micro-injuries to the ligament tissue. While some fibers of the ligament are torn, others remain intact. This variant is accompanied by sometimes severe pain and swelling. They make normal functioning and movement of the affected joint impossible.
  • Grade 3: Complete rupture with complete tearing of the ligament and associated swelling and pain. The joint, which was originally stabilized by the ligaments, loses its support and becomes unstable.

Potential causes & risk factors of a ligament injury

Accidents during sport are one of the main causes of ligament injuries. In sports such as soccer, basketball and tennis, the ankle joints tend to be particularly at risk. In handball and volleyball, on the other hand, the excessive involvement of the hands increases the risk to the finger joints. Cycling and skiing, on the other hand, place particular strain on the knees, as does soccer.

Injuries to the ankle joints also occur frequently in everyday life. Here, an unfortunate twist of the ankle can be enough to cause a stretching of the respective ligaments.

Bänderriss am Fuß
A common ligament injury is a partial or complete ligament tear © Henrie | AdobeStock

Methods for diagnosing a ligament injury

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. Your family doctor can make an initial diagnosis. Depending on the type of injury and its severity, it may also be necessary to consult a

may be required.

Following an initial consultation for orientation(anamnesis), a physical examination is carried out. Your doctor will be guided by existing signs of illness, i.e.

  • Swelling,
  • pain on pressure and movement and
  • the formation of blood and/or joint effusion.

The stability and mobility of the affected joint are also important indicators in this phase of the diagnosis.

In a third step, an X-ray is taken to rule out a fracture of the joint and bony ligament tears.

Other important diagnostic procedures for a more precise classification of the ligament injury are

The latter is not only used for the most comprehensive diagnosis possible. If necessary, it can also be used as a minimally invasive form of therapy.

After determining the clinical picture, including the degree of injury, your doctor will initiate treatment.

Treatment methods for a ligament injury

A careful diagnosis is essential for the selection of a "tailor-made" therapy.

Conservative methods are recommended for minor ligament injuries, such as

  • Consistent rest,
  • the application of bandages to stabilize and support the healing process.

In the case of a stretched ligament, this takes around two to three weeks.

A pulled ligament, on the other hand, requires a longer recovery time, as slight tears and tissue bleeding often occur. As with ligament sprains, the stability of the joint is not affected. However, it is important to avoid an unfavorable course due to premature excessive strain.

After the rest phase, a strain is often followed by physiotherapy prescribed by the doctor. This helps to gradually restore the joint to its former full strength and resilience.

Healing a torn ligament, whether in the knee or ankle, requires a great deal of patience. The first step in the usually two-part treatment approach is to stabilize the affected limb using an orthosis or brace. For people who want to quickly restore the resilience of their joints, surgery is an alternative. Professional athletes in particular often resort to this solution.

The second part of the treatment of a torn ligament takes place after complete healing. It consists of individually adapted physiotherapy exercises to promote muscle reconstruction and optimize movement coordination.

The prognosis for a torn ligament

In general, it should be noted that the course and recovery of ligament injuries can be greatly influenced by the patient. For example, if you do not follow the doctor's recommendations to take it easy and put weight on the injured area too soon, complications are not uncommon.

In concrete terms, this means that even minor strains can lead to a tear or unnecessarily prolong the recovery phase. Accompanying symptoms such as pain and swelling can also intensify.

Following the doctor's treatment recommendations precisely will usually lead to optimal recovery of the ligaments.

References

  • Gotzen, L./Baumgaertel, F. (Hrsg.): Bandverletzungen am Sprunggelenk. Grundlagen Diagnostik Therapie in: Hefte zur Zeitschrift „Der Unfallchirurg“, Band 204, Springer Verlag Berlin 1989.
  • Wülker, N. (Hrsg.): Taschenlehrbuch Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, 3. Auflage, Thieme Verlag 2015.
  • Schneider, T. (Dr. med.): Bänderriss und Bänderdehnung: Bandverletzungen am Sprunggelenk unter https://gelenk-klinik.de/sprunggelenk/bandverletzungen.html, abgerufen am 7. 12. 2021.
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