Torn ligament at the knee – treatment and important

The knee is one of the largest joints in the human body and is subject to heavy daily stress. To meet the demands, the knee is supported by a complex ligamentous apparatus. Each knee has lateral ligaments that run externally and internally from the thigh bone to the fibula or shin bone: the outer ligament and the inner ligament.

In addition, the cruciate ligaments run inside the joint, with one anterior and one posterior ligament for each knee. In the front, the tendon of the kneecap provides stability, while in the back there are some smaller ligaments that are of little clinical significance. If the knee is overloaded or subjected to extreme movement that it cannot normally perform, the ligaments of the knee may tear.

In front of all inner ligaments, outer ligaments and cruciate ligaments are affected. A torn ligament in the knee is therefore one of the most common sports injuries and must be treated appropriately to maintain stability in the knee. A partial tear is distinguished from a complete tear of the ligament. A special case is the so-called Unhappy Triad. Here, the inner ligament, the anterior cruciate ligament and the inner meniscus tear.

Causes of torn ligament

A torn ligament in the knee is usually the result of an accident in which considerable external forces act on the knee and overstretch it. The ligaments have only limited elasticity, so that they can tear in the event of unnatural movements and overstretching. Overstretching to the sides has a strong effect on the collateral ligaments.

When the ligaments are twisted, the cruciate ligaments are particularly affected, with the anterior cruciate ligament in particular showing a torn ligament. Such extreme stretching at the knee is caused by one’s own body weight, when the ligaments are overstretched due to falls or a kind of twisting. Violent external influences can also damage the knee accordingly.

Abrupt changes of direction are also a classic injury mechanism. When the leg is stretched and firmly on the ground, a counter-directional movement is quickly initiated, which can twist the knee. These forces damage the front cruciate ligament.

Torn ligaments in the lateral ligaments are usually caused by external forces, such as a foul in soccer. Forces acting on the knee from the outside lead to a torn ligament on the inner ligament. Typical sports that involve an increased risk of torn ligaments in the knee are sports such as soccer or tennis. Skiers or snowboarders also more often suffer a torn anterior cruciate ligament when their knee is twisted. Other causes of torn ligaments in the knee are traffic accidents or falls from great heights, in which the foot is the first to hit the ground.