Sick leave | Torn inner ligament at the knee – How dangerous is that?

Sick leave

The length of time one is put on sick leave for a torn inner ligament of the knee depends not least on the profession. However, a week in the resting phase is always necessary to allow the knee to rest. Whether you are then able to pursue your profession with a splint depends, of course, on what you have to do there.

Also the possibility to reach the workplace, because you are not allowed to drive a car with the splint, plays a role here. It is therefore always a matter of weighing up the individual case. The duration of incapacity to work can therefore be between one and several weeks.

As a rule, the prognosis for collateral ligament injuries (torn inner and outer ligament) is good. Depending on the type of injury (overstretching, (complex) tear), however, rehabilitation of the knee joint takes time. The worse the initial situation was, the longer it will take until the ligamentous apparatus with all its muscles has recovered.

As with all diseases, the healing time depends very much on individual factors. In addition to the physical conditions, this also includes adherence to the accompanying measures. These include, for example, cooling, protection and a partial load appropriate to the situation.

Also a good physiotherapy and accompanying treatment with painkillers and if necessary splinting influences the healing process. In general, a rupture of the inner ligament usually heals very well under conservative treatment, so that surgery is rarely necessary. It is important that the knee is initially spared for a few days so that the situation can calm down and any swelling subsides.

Only then should the training measures for rehabilitation and further strain be started.As with many illnesses, it is especially important to carry out the physiotherapeutic measures consistently. This can also be done independently at home. The healing process can progress faster and, above all, the later resilience can be increased.

However, one should not overdo it. The time frame until the knee is completely restored to its full capacity varies greatly. Depending on the severity of the tear, it can take about 2 – 10 weeks.

However, a more protracted course is also possible. With less severe tears, it is often possible to resume a light sports program after 2-3 weeks. In the case of more severe cracks, a longer immobilization with splints is necessary.

Since the load capacity can only be built up much more slowly, full loading as with sports is usually only possible again after about 2-3 months. If instability remains in the knee after the actual healing phase is complete, it may be necessary to perform surgery. Furthermore, the time until healing also depends on whether other structures of the knee are also affected.

For example, a rupture of the inner ligament often results in an additional rupture of the cruciate ligament and/or meniscus and the joint capsule, the healing of which then additionally influences the course of the disease. The blood circulation of the inner ligament also plays an important role and can delay healing. In any case, it is important not to put too much strain on the knee too early, as otherwise there is a risk of tearing it again.

In the case of very severe tears of the inner ligament, the healing process can take up to 9 months. Endangering sports, such as skiing, soccer games should be performed with caution. Important for a stable knee joint are also trained, strong muscles.

These give the knee joint great stability and thus minimize the risk of ligament rupture. The inner ligament of the knee joint is one of the collateral ligaments and runs – as the name suggests – along the inside of the knee from top to bottom. Like the outer ligament, it serves to stabilize the knee joint.

The collateral ligaments interact with all other ligaments of the joint and the surrounding muscles. If the medial ligament moves as a result of an accident (trauma) (usually during sports), the joint becomes unstable in addition to pain. In addition to the test of the folding, the MRI examination in particular provides information about the type and severity of the injury.

The therapy is also based on this: is it only treated conservatively with a splint (days or weeks) or is surgery necessary (if the bone is involved). The prognosis also depends on the type and severity of the injury, but is generally good. Such an injury can be avoided by exercising caution in dangerous sports and, above all, a strong, well-trained muscular skeleton makes a major contribution to the stability of the knee joint. The more stability such a knee joint experiences, the less easy it is to traumatize.