What Is a Ligament Rupture?

Ligament rupture (desmorrhexis) usually causes tears or complete ruptures due to passive pulling of related ligaments due to actions beyond the joint's range of motion during activities. Ruptured ligaments are often accompanied by sprains and fractures.

Basic Information

Visiting department

orthopedics

Common locations

ligament

Common causes

Move beyond the range of motion of the joint during exercise

Common symptoms

Local swelling, tenderness, or joint instability, etc.

Causes of Ligament Rupture

Muscles, ligaments, fascia, synovium, etc. are involved when the human body carries weight-bearing activities or changes in position. When joints are twisted or muscles are suddenly contracted, a small number of fibers can be broken, and small joints can move slightly, causing ligament damage. There are two types of ligament damage: torn ligaments and ruptured ligaments.

Clinical manifestations of ruptured ligaments

Local swelling, tenderness, or joint instability. Pain, subcutaneous staining, limited mobility, inability to fully straighten, joint instability, and advanced traumatic arthritis are the main sequelae of ligament injury.

Ligament Rupture Examination

1. X-ray film

2.MRI examination

Ligament Rupture Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on symptoms and examination of trauma history, local swelling, tenderness, or joint instability.

Differential diagnosis of ligament rupture

Ligament contusion

Generally, during activities, actions beyond the range of joint movement are made, and the degree of ligament damage is not serious, and redness and swelling will occur.

2. Ligament sprain

It is the damage to the soft tissues (such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, etc.) of the joints or body of the extremities without fractures, dislocations, and skin and flesh damage. The main clinical manifestations are pain, swelling, and limited joint movement at the injury site, which are common in the waist, ankle, knee, shoulder, wrist, elbow, and hip.

3. Ligament strain

In vertebrates, the ligament is a connective tissue cord that connects the bones with each other, and runs parallel to the elastic fibers. After the ligament was strained, local swelling, pain, tenderness, and bruising with subcutaneous bleeding were visible.

Ligament Rupture Treatment

Diagnosis and treatment of ligament damage should be done promptly. Immediately after the injury, brakes and local cooling should be taken to delay and reduce swelling and bleeding, and at the same time to relieve pain, go to the hospital in time.

1. fixed

Fix the damaged joint in functional position with splint or plaster. A minor injury to the lateral ligament of the ankle joint can usually be used for functional exercises after 3 days, while severe fractures require at least 2 to 4 weeks.

2. Drug treatment

Generally applied topically.

3. Physical therapy

Emphasize precise diagnosis, early treatment, and comprehensive repair. Early treatment is based on a precise diagnosis, and treatment requires a full repair. Otherwise, any remaining unrepaired ligament damage is a potentially unstable factor that eventually leads to advanced symptoms. Some injuries can be repaired directly, and those with severe injuries need to be repaired with adjacent tendons, fascia and other tissues. The most representative ligament injuries are knee ligament injuries and ankle collateral ligament injuries.

4. Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment is not limited by the time of injury, so the treatment is more flexible.

5. Massage and physiotherapy

Generally, it cannot be treated within 24 to 48 hours after the injury to prevent the swelling or bleeding from worsening.

Ligament Rupture Prevention

1. Stretching exercises can effectively prevent ligament strain and ligament rupture.

2. Be sure to do preparatory activities when exercising ligaments. Do not practice too fast or too hard. Exercise your limbs especially before winter exercise. If you do not warm up before exercise, it may easily cause muscle or ligament strain or sprain.