Sprained ligaments, torn ligaments

Ligaments ensure the necessary stability and also determine the manoeuvrability of the joints. Sudden movements that go beyond the normal radius often lead to sprains related to the connective tissue or tears. Most frequently, this injury occurs at the knee, ankle or wrist. However any joint can be affected, e.g. the finger joints through ball sports. If strains or tears are left untreated, they may cause long-term instability and through this, chronic incorrect stress. This accelerates the deterioration processes in the joint.

Symptoms: The straining / tearing of ligaments are the symptoms which are mostly associated with acute onset of pain. Swelling, and sometimes bruising, arises in the affected joints. Through the course of straining or tearing, complaints mainly exist due to stress and movement.

Therapy: On the one hand, the choice of treatment depends on the severity of the injury, and on the hand, the sporting activities that the patient wants to pursue. Through conservative therapies such as temporary immobilisation supported by special bandages and targeted physiotherapy, joint stabilisation using the muscles can, in many cases be achieved and the injury healed, even in the case of torn ligaments. In the case of very athletic, active patients, this active stabilisation is not often enough, so that surgical procedures such as ligament stitches, or ligament replacement from own tissue are used, usually in the form of arthroscopic surgery.