Knee Ligament Tear Treatment in Delhi, India

Patients with knee ligament injury may present with the following symptoms:

• Sudden and severe pain
• A loud pop or snap sound during the injury
• Swelling at the joint within the first 24 hours post-injury
• A feeling of looseness at the joint
• Pain on putting weight on the joint

These injuries require immediate medical attention. In some cases, as with ACL tears, one may require surgery to stabilise the knee that won't give out on twisting or pivoting.

Ligament injuries are also called sprains. This means that the ligament fibres may tear to some extent. Depending on the type of treatment, severity of the tear, be it conservative or surgical, can be decided. The grades of ligament damage are:

• Grade 1 - The ligament is overstretched, causing pain and inflammation. This can be managed conservatively.
• Grade 2 – This is where a few fibres may rip. Depending on the number of fibres that have been torn, a decision to perform surgery or conservative treatment is made.
• Grade 3 – This is a complete rupture of the ligament and will require surgery with rehabilitation postoperatively.

Ligaments are strong bands of tissues that join two bones together. The ACL ligament crosses in the middle of the knee. It connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and helps stabilise the joint.

ACL injuries most often occur during sports and fitness activities that may stress the knee:

• Sudden slowing down of body movements and changing direction is called cutting
• Pivoting with the foot firmly planted on a surface
• Stopping suddenly
• Landing awkwardly from a jump
• Receiving a direct blow to the knee 
• Having a collision like a football tackle

There is usually a partial or complete tissue tear when the ligament is damaged. A mild injury may stretch the ligament but leave it intact.

The doctor usually enquires about medical history and performs a physical exam. He may advise one or more of the following tests:

• X-ray: They rule out the possibility of damaged bone.
• MRI: Detailed images of organs and structures within the body can be obtained with MRIs. It helps diagnose any damage or disease in the bones and surrounding ligaments, tendons, or muscles.
• Arthroscopy: This procedure helps diagnose and treat joint disorders. A small, lighted tube called an arthroscope is put into the joint through a small incision. Images of the joint can be seen on a TV screen. The procedure helps assess joint problems, bone diseases and tumours, and the cause of bone pain and inflammation.

A mild to moderate knee ligament tear may heal on its own. To fasten the recovery period, one must:

• Rest the knee. 
• Avoid putting much weight or pressure on the knee if it's painful. 
• Use crutches if need be.
• Apply an ice pack on the injured knee for 20 to 30 minutes after every 3 to 4 hours. This helps lessen the pain and swelling. This should be continued till the swelling subsides.
• Compress the knee. Putting an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves on the knee to control swelling may help.
• Raise the knee on a pillow when sitting or lying down.
• Wear a knee brace to stabilise the knee and protect it from further injury.
• Take Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxent, which will help in reducing pain and swelling.
• Practice stretching and strengthening exercises under the doctor's guidance.
• Prompt first-aid care can help lower pain and swell immediately after an injury.

Rehabilitative therapy is advised for those with an ACL injury. A physical therapist may assist in performing exercises either with continued supervision or at home. 

Rehabilitation aims to lessen pain and swelling, restore the knee's complete range of motion, and strengthen the muscles. This course of physiotherapy may help successfully treat an ACL injury for relatively inactive individuals, engaging in moderate exercise and recreational activities or playing sports that put less stress on the injured knees.

Surgery is recommended when:

• The patient is a sports person and wishes to continue playing sport that involves jumping, cutting or pivoting.
• More than one ligament or fibrous cartilage in the knee is torn.
• The injury is causing the knee to buckle during routine activities.

• During ACL. reconstruction, the damaged ligament is removed and replaced with a tendon segment called a graft.
• The graft may be taken from the same patient or a deceased donor.
• After the surgery, another course of rehabilitative therapy is initiated. Successful ACL reconstruction paired with rigorous rehabilitation usually restores the stability and function of the knee.
• A more extended recovery period may be required to reduce re-injury risk.
• It takes about a year for athletes to return to play after satisfactory test results of functioning are obtained. It is vital to ensure that stability, strength and movement patterns are optimised before returning to an activity with a risk of ACL injury.

People who experience a knee ligament tear have a higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis may occur even if the ligament is reconstructed with surgery.

Multiple factors influence the risk of arthritis, like the severity of the injury, associated injuries in the knee joint, or activity level after treatment.

In case these symptoms develop, one must immediately contact their doctor:

• Fever or chills
• Swelling
• Redness, bleeding, or other drainages from the incision site
• Increased pain around the incision site

Several factors increase the risk of knee ligament injuries, such as:

• Knee injuries occur most commonly in women owing to their anatomy and muscle strength
• Playing certain sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, gymnastics and downhill skiing
• Poor condition of health
• Using faulty mobility patterns, such as moving the knees inward during a squat
• Wearing improperly fitting footwear
• Using poorly maintained sports equipment, such as ski bindings that aren't adjusted properly
• Playing on artificial turf

• ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TEAR
• Knee Injuries
• 5 Common Reasons Behind Knee Pain
• Factors To Consider Before Opting For Knee Surgery