Torn ligament

Alongside ligament sprains, ligament tears are one of the most common sports injuries and ankle injuries. The joints are surrounded by ligaments. These provide support for the joint. They stabilize the joints and guide and limit movement. However, ligaments can tear as a result of an accident, usually during sport. This is referred to as a ligament rupture or torn ligament. The ligaments can tear either partially or completely. As with the ankle, ligament tears can also occur in the knee - a collateral ligament tear or a cruciate ligament tear. Athletes who play sports that involve short sprints and start-stop movements, such as soccer, tennis or volleyball, are particularly at risk.

Causes of a torn ligament

The outer ligament of the upper ankle joint is particularly frequently affected. A torn ligament occurs when the foot is overstretched or overloaded, for example when it twists outwards. Torn ligaments are particularly likely to occur if you are overweight, wear the wrong footwear or high heels and are in a poor training condition with untrained muscles.

The causes of a cruciate ligament rupture are also one-sided strain, overloading, overweight or accidental injuries. Rapid movements in sport in particular, during which the knee twists, can lead to a torn cruciate ligament.

Symptoms: Torn ankle ligaments

Torn ankle ligaments can cause bruising on the foot, the ankle swells and the affected person experiences sudden, severe pain, especially when walking.

First aid for torn ankle ligaments

In the event of a torn ankle ligament, the affected person should first take pressure off the foot. First aid involves elevating, cooling and resting the foot. Walking should be avoided at first.

What are the symptoms of a torn cruciate ligament?

The outer ligament, inner ligament, anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament hold the knee joint together and keep it stable. If overloaded, for example during fast movements in sport or twisting the knee, the ligaments can overstretch and even tear partially or completely. Depending on the ligament in question, this is referred to as a lateral ligament tear, medial ligament tear or cruciate ligament tear.

Injured people often complain of sudden severe pain, a swollen knee and restricted movement. For first aid, knee specialists recommend elevating the knee to relieve the pain. Cooling and an elastic pressure bandage can also help.

Diagnosis of torn ligaments

To diagnose a torn ligament or torn cruciate ligament, it is important for the specialist to know how the accident occurred. Where exactly is the pain in the knee or ankle? Are there any movements that are painful or only possible with difficulty? Does the patient have any pre-existing conditions or previous injuries?

The doctor will palpate the joint to see if there is any swelling or misalignment, check the blood circulation and how the joint can be moved. He will also carry out a functional test to assess the restrictions caused by the injury more precisely.

In order to determine further injuries or if the diagnosis is unclear, an ultrasound examination, X-ray or MRI can also be arranged.

Treatment: How is a torn ligament treated?

During initial treatment, the affected joint should first be immobilized, possibly elevated and cooled. Subsequent treatment can be conservative or surgical. The severity of the injury is decisive here.

If the ligament is not only torn but completely torn, the ankle joint is unstable or the bone on the ankle joint is injured, conservative treatment is usually not sufficient and surgery is necessary to stitch the ligaments back together.

To protect the ankle, the ankle joint must not be loaded for six weeks. In addition, a walking splint must be worn for five weeks.

Therapy: Treatment for a cruciate ligament rupture

The severity of the knee injury is also decisive for the treatment of a torn cruciate ligament. Is the cruciate ligament only torn and can grow back together on its own or does it need to be stitched? If the joint is unstable, several ligaments are injured or the bone in the knee joint is also injured, surgery is required to stitch the cruciate ligament. For fresh injuries, our knee surgery specialists will stitch the ligament. In the case of older cruciate ligament tears, the ligament is replaced with a piece of tendon. The specialists refer to this as cruciate ligament plastic surgery.

In special cases, if the ligament has been torn repeatedly and the patient's own tendon cannot be used, a donor tendon can also be transplanted.