Forecast
The prognosis of ligament stretching is usually very good if it is adequately treated. Particularly if it is the first time the ligament is stretched, it can heal without any further damage. Nevertheless, it is very important that the patient spares himself sufficiently after the ligament strain so that no consequential damage occurs.
If a patient treats his ligament strain adequately and keeps the sports break prescribed by the doctor, the prognosis of a ligament strain is generally very good. Nevertheless, it is possible that patients who repeatedly overstretch their ligaments may have to expect consequential damage. The recurrent (recurrent) overstressing of the ligament (ligamentum) can cause the elastic ligament to stretch to such an extent that it cannot return to its original shape.
This is the case, for example, if the ligaments in the hip area have been repeatedly overstressed by a balancing act. In this case, the prognosis for healing is somewhat worse in the long term. Due to the fact that the ligament becomes more and more elastic and has to stretch more and more, it is possible that the necessary stability is no longer guaranteed.
This can then lead to a so-called luxation of the head of the femur. In this case, the femoral head slips out of the hip socket (Cox) because the ligaments no longer guarantee sufficient stability. This is also possible if the ligaments at the shoulder are overstretched (shoulder dislocation).
In this case the prognosis of a healing is worse. In general, however, such consequential damage only occurs if the patient often or permanently pulls and overstretches his ligaments. If a patient spares the ligament strain, consequential damage is rather rare.
Nevertheless, an overstretched or torn ligament is more susceptible to a torn ligament and thus to instability in the joint. A torn ligament, especially a torn cruciate ligament, has a far worse prognosis than a stretched ligament. This makes it all the more important to protect the torn ligament and to provide adequate therapy, since in this case a very favourable prognosis for ligament extension can be expected.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of ligament stretching can usually be made with the help of a medical history, i.e. a conversation with a specialist doctor (orthopaedist or trauma surgeon). On the basis of the description of the accident mechanism, the doctor can often already conclude that the ligament has been stretched. The affected joint should also be examined.
The best way to differentiate between the diagnosis of ligament stretching and torn ligament is to examine the affected joint. During the examination, the affected joint is examined in detail. It is particularly important to know whether the patient has a pressure pain in the area of the joint, whether there is a swelling or even a haematoma (bruise) and whether there is abnormal (pathological) mobility of the joint.
With the help of the examination, a diagnosis of ligament stretching can then be made. If the doctor notices a pathological mobility of the affected joint, a torn ligament is probable and additional diagnostic procedures may be necessary, such as an X-ray or an MRI of the foot. There are specific tests for each joint and each ligament, which help the doctor to distinguish between the diagnosis of a torn ligament and a torn ligament.
For example, there is a test of the front and rear drawer of the knee joint. With the help of these simple tests, the doctor can differentiate between a torn cruciate ligament or an overstretched cruciate ligament. If the test result is positive, this means that the knee is pathologically mobile.
Thus, the diagnosis is not ligament stretching but a torn ligament, in this case a torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligament. In general, there is a specific test for most ligaments in the human body to ensure the diagnosis of ligament stretching. Nevertheless, it is possible that a reliable diagnosis cannot be made despite expert examination.
In this case, an X-ray or MRI scan is also indicated to assess the structure of the ligaments by imaging. There are specific tests for each joint and each ligament, which help the doctor to distinguish between a diagnosis of ligament stretching and a torn ligament. For example, at the knee joint there is the test of the anterior and posterior drawer.
With the help of these simple tests, the doctor can differentiate between a torn cruciate ligament or an overstretched cruciate ligament. If the test result is positive, this means that the knee is pathologically mobile. Thus, the diagnosis is not ligament stretching but a torn ligament, in this case a torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligament.
In general, there is a specific test for most ligaments in the human body to ensure the diagnosis of ligament stretching. Nevertheless, it is possible that a reliable diagnosis cannot be made despite expert examination. In this case, an X-ray or MRI scan is also indicated to assess the structure of the ligaments by imaging. – Ligamentum fibulotalare posterius
- Fibulocalcanean ligament
- Ligamentum fibulotalare anterius
- Fibula (fibula)
- Shin bone (tibia)
- Hock leg (talus)
- Scaphoid (Os naviculare)
- Sphenoid bone (Os cuniforme)
- Metatarsal bone (Os metatarsale)
- Cuboid bone (Os cuboideum)
