Sprained knee ligaments and their treatment at Dr. Glazkov’s clinic in Moscow

sprain

sprain
Damage to the structures of the knee develops when exposed to excessive mechanical force. Usually it occurs during rotation of the thigh around its axis with the lower leg fixed in one position (twisting the leg). In addition, sprains of the meniscus of the knee joint occur due to direct mechanical impact on the knee.

Causes

Muscle rupture occurs when a cut wound or blow is received. But in more than 50% of cases, the injury occurs due to severe spraining and overexertion. This happens for 3 reasons:

Muscle atrophy in old age.
Changes in muscle structure due to disease.
Pathological muscle weakness.

Often rupture occurs in weightlifters who work with critical weights. The likelihood of injury increases if you do not spend enough time warming up and warming up before physical exercise.

Knee sprain - classification

Knee joint injury and sprain are classified based on the location and extent of the damage. Based on the location of the injured area, there are:

Sprain of the medial ligament of the knee joint.
Sprain of the lateral ligament of the knee joint.
Sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint.
Sprained posterior cruciate ligament of the knee.

Several degrees of tissue trauma are classified by severity, based on the severity and number of injured fibers.

Treatment of tendonitis of the patellar tendon

The main principle of treatment for tendonitis of the patellar tendon is its early onset. Tendons and ligaments have fairly poor nutrition. Over time, pathological changes occur in their tissue, which worsens the prognosis for recovery. Rheumatologists prescribe the following conservative treatment for patellar tendinitis:

Unloading the knee by using a knee brace or fixing bandage;
Limitation of physical activity;
Cold on the joint during the first 24 hours after the onset of pain;
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief;
Troxevasin ointment to reduce swelling in the joint area.

In the acute stage of the disease, the patient is recommended to lie down with a cushion under his leg. You can move around using a cane. In severe cases, injections of glucocorticoids into the source of pain are used. This technique is not used to treat athletes, since hormonal drugs can cause progression of degeneration of the patellar ligament and lead to its rupture under load.

Surgical methods for the treatment of tendinitis of the knee joint ligaments are resorted to in the absence of a positive result from conservative therapy carried out for 1.5 - 3 months. During the operation, the patellar ligament is inspected, the damaged tissue is carefully excised, and the ligament is fixed with a special screw to the tibia.

knee ligaments - symptoms

Painful sensations in the area of trauma, the severity and localization of which depend on how severe the sprain of the knee joint is and how many structures were involved in the pathological process.
Swelling of tissues and hyperemia of the skin resulting from the development of an inflammatory reaction.
Limitation of joint movements or, conversely, the appearance of instability.

Signs of knee sprain also depend on the severity of the violation of the anatomical integrity of the connective tissue fibers and the involvement of other structures (bone base, menisci). Severe sprain of the knee joint may be accompanied by the appearance of pathological mobility in it.

Clinical manifestations

Most often, ruptures of the calf muscles and other parts of the body occur in professional athletes: gymnasts, wrestlers, volleyball players, weightlifters, rowers, etc.
Symptoms of a muscle rupture, first of all, consist of intense pain that is localized in the damaged muscle. In addition, the following is observed:

muscle dysfunction;
the presence of a muscle defect that can be detected by examination and palpation;
bulging of the muscle in the opposite direction from its separation in the form of a roller (with a complete rupture);
the appearance of hematoma and edema at the site of injury.

Sprained collateral ligament of the knee joint - signs

A sprain of the collateral ligament of the knee usually occurs when a mechanical force is applied, resulting in abnormal flexion in the frontal plane. It is accompanied by severe pain sensations developing in the area of the internal or external surface.

Sprains of the medial collateral ligament of the knee develop somewhat less frequently, but can lead to pathological mobility. Sometimes damage to the lateral connective tissue cords and sprain of the cruciate ligaments of the knee can be combined. In this case, the symptoms are more pronounced, and the pain becomes more intense.

Symptoms of tendinitis

This disease comes with several different symptoms. But the most obvious of them is pain. At the initial stage, discomfort may be noticeable only after physical exertion or hard work. Over time, they visit a person with enviable regularity. The sensation can be described as a dull pain, which is concentrated at the site of tissue inflammation. At the same time, it appears only during the movement. When the joint is at rest, the discomfort disappears. If you press on the area of the body where the disease has begun to develop, the pain becomes stronger.

If the inflammation is in an advanced state, then a symptom of tendonitis is redness of the skin around the affected tendon, as well as a local increase in temperature. The joint loses mobility, in some cases a characteristic crunch appears when the body moves.

Elastic nodules in the tissue that can be palpated are also a symptom of tendinitis. They occur after prolonged treatment. There may be one or several nodules. They are an accumulation of fibrous tissue that appears in place of inflammation.

A symptom of shoulder tendonitis may be the appearance of calcifications. These are denser nodules that represent an accumulation of salt deposits. Very often, tendinosis ends in tissue rupture, which leads to longer treatment and rehabilitation.

Diagnostics

Clinical signs of sprain of the knee joint do not make it possible to accurately determine the location and severity of the violation of the anatomical integrity. For this purpose, additional objective research methods are used, which include:

Radiography is a technique that allows you to visualize gross violations of the anatomical integrity, in particular, a pronounced stretch of the internal ligament of the knee joint. To do this, it is carried out in direct and lateral projection.
Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging - these imaging methods make it possible to detect even minor injuries, in particular a sprain of the collateral ligament of the knee or a violation of the integrity of the cruciate connective tissue cords.
Ultrasound examination – a knee sprain is often accompanied by an inflammatory reaction with an increase in the amount of synovial fluid, which can be detected by ultrasound.
Arthroscopy is a method that makes it possible to visualize the sprain of the internal ligaments of the knee by introducing a special optical device, an arthroscope, into the cavity.

Arthroscopy is a low-traumatic invasive procedure that makes it possible to restore the correct structure of the structures of the musculoskeletal system.

Diagnosis of knee tendinitis

If pain after a knee ligament injury persists or worsens, interferes with your ability to perform daily activities, or is accompanied by swelling or redness around the joint, you should consult a doctor. He will conduct a physical examination and determine the degree of dysfunction of the knee.

To examine the severity of the tear and determine whether the kneecap is in the correct position, the doctor will order an x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging. Using ultrasound, changes in the tendons and the patellar ligament are detected. This allows for a timely implementation of a set of conservative measures aimed at preventing tendinitis of the knee joint.

Sprained knee ligaments - treatment

If during diagnostic procedures a sprain of the ligaments of the knee joint was determined, the symptoms and treatment are determined only by a traumatologist. Based on the data obtained during an objective diagnosis of such a condition as a knee injury, treatment includes the following:

drug therapy;
non-pharmacological therapeutic measures;
surgery.

The main directions of treatment for the pathological process are determined by the doctor, based on the specific clinical situation.

Treatment methods for knee sprains

As they say, disease is easier to prevent, so you should know how to protect yourself from sprains. When playing sports, it is best to choose suitable clothes and shoes and avoid stress that is too high for your body. Excess weight provokes dangerous conditions for sprains, increasing the load on the knee joints. But moderate physical activity, a proper balanced diet and an active lifestyle, on the contrary, can strengthen the ligaments. But if a sprain cannot be avoided, then you must immediately consult a doctor and take a number of measures for a speedy recovery.

Regardless of the severity of the sprain, you need to ensure maximum rest for the limb for the first few days. In severe cases, the knee is fixed with a special bandage or a hard cast is applied. It is also recommended to apply ice to the damaged joint every 3-4 hours through a damp towel, and the duration of each procedure should not be more than 20 minutes. It is acceptable to take painkillers such as aspirin or paracetamol. When the swelling begins to subside, you need to regularly perform simple strengthening and development exercises. This is necessary for the proper functioning of the ligaments in the future, otherwise the new tissue may become inactive.

Treatment of sprained knee ligaments using shock wave therapy

Along with other measures, the use of shockwave therapy (shock wave therapy) allows you to restore ligaments in the shortest possible time. The procedure involves using sound waves of a certain frequency. Their impact provokes the activation of tissue regeneration. A pronounced anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect also contributes to the speedy restoration of the knee joint.

The main advantages of UVT include:

disappearance of pain, inflammation and swelling;
rapid restoration of performance and all functions after sprain of the knee joint;
reducing the likelihood of recurrence of joint damage;
the ability to return to normal physical activity as soon as possible (which is especially important for athletes).

Treatment of sprained knee ligaments using shockwave therapy is successfully used in the network of Moscow clinics “Zdorovye Plus”, which specializes in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Treatment is carried out by experienced specialists using the latest Swiss equipment. Each client can count on an individual approach, professional advice and recommendations from doctors, as well as attractive prices and good discounts. We are happy to help each of our clients!

physiotherapy

NSAIDs;
analgesics;
multivitamin preparations;
chondroitin sulfate;

Non-drug measures are prescribed, mainly physiotherapy (electromagnetic fields, mud, ultraphonophoresis with non-steroidal analgesics).

The nature of the injury and its location influence how long a knee sprain takes to heal. Typically, the average duration of conservative therapy is about a month. If a severe knee sprain has been diagnosed, treatment includes surgery. The operation is performed with an open approach or using arthroscopy.

Symptomatic treatment of injuries

To reduce swelling, inflammation, pain in case of injuries to the musculoskeletal system (bruises, sprains, ruptures of muscles, ligaments, tendons), Bystrumgel can be used. This is a modern non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug based on ketoprofen, which has the ability to inhibit mediators of pain and inflammation.11

Bystrumgel has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-edematous effects. The gel form of the drug ensures convenient application. Bystrumgel also contains essential oils of lavender and orange flowers, which give it a pleasant aroma. If ligaments are damaged, the analgesic effect appears 15-30 minutes after applying the gel.11