The knee joint has four ligaments that connect the bones of the lower leg with the fibula and femur. These are two lateral ligaments, as well as the posterior and anterior ones. As a result of a fall or other damage to the knee joint, one of the ligaments or several of them may break at once.
Rupture of ligaments of the knee joint often occurs due to excessive reduction or abduction of the lower leg. In case of sharp abduction of the lower leg to the outside, the inner ligament may be damaged, if inside, then there is a risk of tearing the outer ligament. The lateral ligaments are usually damaged by sharp pressure from the outside, that is, when they hit the lower leg. Any of the tears is characterized by acute pain, but the movement of the joint is not impeded. But there is a chance that the knee will swell. After an injury in the knee joint, discomfort may be felt when running and even walking. This can be observed after the process of fusion of ligaments. There are cases when a damaged ligament simply hardens after several subsequent injuries.
In case of injury, a person needs first aid. Actions should occur according to the principle: rest, ice, fixation, uplift. If you apply ice in time and quickly cool the joint, the swelling will significantly decrease and the pain will not be so sharp.
As regards rest, the injured knee should be completely at rest for about two days after the rupture, thereby preventing new injuries.
Cool the joint with an ice pack. If this is not the case, you can use something else. It can be frozen vegetables or meat. To avoid frostbite, it is necessary to put a piece of tissue between the skin and ice or wrap an ice container in it, and only then can it be applied to the knee. The application time is about twenty minutes every hour. The total time should not be more than three hours. This method of reducing pain and swelling will be relevant only during the day after the injury.
Ligament rupture is an injury that requires some fixation. The joint must be secured with an elastic bandage. The wrapping should be strong enough, but without pinching. Otherwise, blood flow disturbance may occur and tissue necrosis will occur.
During bed rest in case of trauma that caused a rupture of the ligaments of the knee joint, you need to raise the leg above the level of the heart, if possible. For this purpose, several pillows are placed under the injured leg. The situation is relevant if the patient is lying. If he is sitting, then his leg can be laid on a chair. In this elevated position, the damaged leg should be several days, at least.
In order to fully verify how the knee is damaged, a break in the ligaments or just a dislocation and a bruise, a medical examination is necessary. A specialist examines the knee for the size of the tumor, since its growth rate and degree directly indicate the severity of the injury. Also, by palpation, a check for soreness occurs. In addition, the doctor slightly moves the knee joint to the sides. It is important to observe the knee in a straightened state, there should be no feeling of weakness or instability. Such a diagnosis may be difficult due to acute pain. In this case, a splint is applied to the knee, a pain medication is prescribed and a follow-up examination is carried out after a few days. If there is a suspicion that bone tissue is damaged, a specialist may prescribe an x-ray.
Rupture of ligaments of the knee joint requires treatment. The only thing that can help is the application and wearing of a bandage, which will provide the joint with immobility and stability. If the injury is more serious, a tire may be applied for several weeks. This device does not interfere with the straightening or bending of the knee, but it does not loosen it in different directions.
In the event that a rupture of the ligaments of the knee joint is fixed, surgical intervention is not required. After several weeks of lack of active motor activity, physiotherapy may be recommended, but the main thing here is to make sure that the ligaments are fully grown and joint stability is restored.