Ligament Injuries
Ligaments connect the leg bones and support your knee. A severe leg twist or blow to the knee may tear one or more ligaments. As a result, your knee may swell or feel wobbly, or may not be able to support you.
Assessing the Problem
Using arthroscopy, your surgeon may find a partial or complete tear in your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The collateral ligaments can't be seen with an arthroscope. So if your surgeon suspects injury to a collateral ligament, you may need open surgery.
Repairing the Damage
A partly torn ACL may not need repair. But your surgeon may reconstruct a fully torn ACL. To do this, he or she uses a graft (healthy tissue often taken from somewhere else in your body). A torn collateral ligament may be repaired with sutures.
Your Recovery
Ligaments take a long time to heal, even if no repair is done. Recovery from a partial tear may take as long as 3 months. If a graft is needed, recovery may take from 6 months to a year. To help your knee heal, you may be asked to do some or all of the following:
- Use crutches as instructed.
- Wear a hinged brace to support your knee. After recovery, you may need to wear a knee brace for certain sports, such as skiing.
- Exercise to regain range of motion and strength in your knee.
This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat a medical problem. © 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000 The StayWell Company, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030. www.krames.com 800-333-3032. All right reserved.