What is a cruciate ligament tear?

If the cruciate ligament ruptures in the knee, the posterior or anterior cruciate ligament tears partially or completely. Doctors also refer to the cruciate ligament rupture as a cruciate ligament rupture. As the name of the ligaments suggests, the tendons in the center of the knee joint cross and connect the thigh and the shin. Together with the collateral ligaments, they hold the knee joint together and guide it with every movement. If a cruciate ligament tears, the position of the thigh and lower leg bones becomes unstable. The knee is only held by the surrounding muscles - and can no longer be moved as usual. 

The cruciate ligaments of the knee joint cross and are the connection between the thigh and the shin

The cruciate ligament rupture is a typical sports injury to the knee, for example in soccer. Most of those affected suffer an anterior cruciate ligament tear, but a posterior cruciate ligament tear is also possible. Both forms appear either as a single injury or in combination with other damage, for example to the menisci, the inner or outer ligament.

Because cruciate ligaments do not heal on their own from a complete tear, an untreated cruciate ligament tear can have serious consequences . Due to the instability, the affected knee is more flexible than a healthy joint and is particularly at risk for wear damage and signs of wear and tear.

Cruciate ligament tear: causes are twisting or overstretching

A cruciate ligament rupture is usually caused by the person concerned twisting or overextending their lower leg - for example when skiing, playing football or in a car accident.

Cruciate ligament injuries are particularly common in these circumstances:

• in the event of sudden braking movements or sudden changes of direction at high speed
• by sudden acceleration or rotation on a fixed foot
• in the event of an accident after a jump or a turn
• from the side impact of an opponent against the knee joint (for example in a contact sport)
• in the case of physical fatigue, high friction between the shoe and the ground or coordination disorders
• after a previous cruciate ligament tear or an anatomically narrow cruciate ligament

Men are more likely to have a cruciate ligament rupture than women, and younger people more often than older people. Especially in the ages group from 15 to 25 years there are a lot of anterior cruciate ligament tears.

Cruciate ligament tear: symptoms can be felt and heard

Many people affected can feel the cruciate ligament tear at the moment of the accident - as a jerk, accompanied by severe, stabbing pain. Some even report an audible bang. No wonder, since considerable forces have to act before the taut fiber strands break. This is particularly true of the posterior cruciate ligament, which is more pronounced and therefore less prone to injury than the anterior one.

The acute cruciate ligament rupture is often associated with these consequences:

• The knee joint swells a lot.
• The knee joint is unstable when it comes to bending and tilts forwards, especially when going down.
• The knee is less resilient.
• If blood vessels are damaged, a bruise occurs .
• The acute cruciate ligament tear can cause severe pain, which is often located in the hollow of the knee.

In the chronic course, symptoms such as:

• Unsteadiness of gait
• repeated sprains of the knee joint (in everyday life or under stress)
• Feeling of instability
• Loss of performance
• Problems with rotating, tilting movements
• recurrent joint effusions and swellings
• unspecific complaints

Depending on how the cruciate ligament is torn and whether there are accompanying injuries, a cruciate ligament tear can manifest itself in very different ways. Some sufferers even experience a cruciate ligament tear without any pain or classify the symptoms as a harmless sprain . With them, the crack is often only recognized late, when the first consequential damage and signs of wear appear after years.

 

Cruciate ligament tear: treatment should begin quickly

After a cruciate ligament rupture, those affected should not wait long, but react quickly.

These immediate measures can help:

• end the sporting activity
• immobilize the knee and possibly support it with a bandage or orthosis
• relieve the knee with crutches or crutches
• cool the joint with ice
• elevate the knee if it swells

After this initial care, patients should quickly go to a doctor's office or the emergency room . There, doctors can prescribe pain medication and initiate the next steps in treatment. Further cruciate ligament tear therapy can look very different. Surgical measures are just as possible as conservative treatments without an operation.

Treat cruciate ligament tear without surgery

Whether a patient can do without an operation depends on various factors. A conservative therapy comes into question if the person concerned:

• under osteoarthritis suffers,
• the knee does not have to withstand any major sporting or physical stress,
• the knee feels stable,
• In the event of a partial tear, at least 75 percent of the ligament is still intact and / or there are no accompanying injuries.

But conservative measures are also used in active patients - in preparation for an operation and in rehabilitation after the operation. Physiotherapy is an essential component in any case . The aim of the therapist is to build up the muscles in the injured leg. It should help to compensate for the function of the broken ligament and to stabilize the knee. After a cruciate ligament rupture, the exercises are intended to strengthen the thigh and lower leg muscles in particular, so that the knee can be practically “splinted”.

In the initial phase, patients with a cruciate ligament tear are also prescribed a real splint, a so-called orthosis. It protects the knee from further damage, relieves the ligaments and protects the joint. Later it may be sufficient to tape the knee affected by the cruciate ligament rupture if you want to put more strain on it again.

Other conservative measures can be:

• Puncture of the knee joint to reduce swelling
• anti-inflammatory drugs
• cooling
• Crutches / crutches
• Coordination training

Overall, the following applies: If a cruciate ligament tear is treated conservatively, a specialist must closely examine and check the knee. If the non-operative measures fail permanently, there is a risk of consequential damage for the patient.

menshealthupdates   womensdayblog  usweeklyblog  myfavouriteceleb  technologydominator