Knee ligaments connect the femur to the bones in the lower leg and are responsible for stabilizing the joint and preventing abnormal movements of the bones. A torn ligament does not always require surgery. Depending on the level of damage, there are different treatment methods. Knee ligament injuries are divided into three levels:
Level one: The ligaments are stretched but still enough to keep the knee stable
Level two: Partial rupture (tear), causing the knee joint to become loose.
Level three: Complete ligament rupture or partial ligament rupture but accompanied by injuries such as torn meniscus, torn other ligaments…
If you have a grade one or two injury, your doctor will treat it conservatively using splinting combined with RICE therapy so that the damaged ligament can heal on its own. RICE is a four-step home care method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the legs when sitting or lying down.
Surgery is indicated if the injury is grade three. At this time, depending on the patient’s body condition and needs, the doctor can surgically reconstruct the ligament with autologous tendons or use artificial ligaments. The surgery is performed using an endoscopic method, which is minimally invasive, minimizing the risk of infection. Thanks to that, it ensures aesthetics, less blood loss, good pain relief, and patients can soon begin rehabilitation.
After surgery, you will be guided through rehabilitation with individually designed exercises. These exercises help improve ligament function and the level of movement of the knee joint, restore muscle strength, and prevent the risk of developing muscle atrophy, especially quadriceps muscle atrophy, which hinders leg movement. dynamic. Postoperative rehabilitation also helps protect grafts that are in the process of biological transformation before forming true ligaments.
Normally, after reconstructive surgery with artificial ligaments, you can walk 1-2 days after surgery, run after 2 months and play sports again after 6 months. In the case of using autologous tendons, you can walk without assistive devices after 1.5 months, run after 7 months, and play sports after a year.
You should have surgery when indicated. If not treated promptly, ligament rupture can lead to mild to severe complications such as joint instability, cartilage degeneration, osteoarthritis, disability and the need for artificial joint replacement.