American Surgical Injury
Pay the PRICE: P rotect the injured knee from further injury
R est the affected knee. Consider crutches to keep the weight off the knee. However, many doctors say not to keep the knee unmoving for too long. It's best to start some exercises to keep the joint moving.
I ce should be applied as soon as possible after the injury - for 10-30 minutes. Do not put ice directly on skin, as it may cause ice-burn - use a cloth. The cold reduces blood flow to the damaged ligament. This may limit pain and swelling.
C ompression with a bandage will limit swelling, and help rest the joint. A tubular compression bandage can be used. Mild pressure that is not too tight or stop blood flow is ideal. The bandage may be removed after 48 hours. This is because …show more content…
the bandage may limit movement of the joint which should be moving more freely now.
E levation is to limit and reduce any swelling. The knee must be elevated above the level of the heart to reduce bloodflow.
H eat - like hot baths, saunas. Heat has the opposite effect to ice on the blood flow. That is, it encourages blood flow. So, heat should be avoided when inflammation occurs. However, after 72 hours, no more inflammation likely develops and heat may then be calming
A lcoholic drinks, which can increase bleeding and inflammation and decrease repair
R unning or other exercise that may cause further injury
M assage, which may increase bleeding and swelling. However, like heat, after 72 hours, massage may be calming
Pain medicine: doctors may prescribe pain medication to reduce pain in the joint. It is important to not wait until the pain is sever to take medication as that may reduce the speed of recovery or make the injury worse. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammataory Drugs (NSAIDs): such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling and pain. This medicine can be bought with or without a prescription. However, NSAIDs may cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If blood thinner medicine has previously been taken by a person for the injury, a doctor shoud be consulted to ensure NSAIDs are safe.
Some knee ligament injuries can be treated with knee braces. This is to support the knee while the damaged ligament heals. Knee braces usually work like a hinge joint, allowing some flexion and extension movements of the knee joint. The knee brace does not allow movement of the knee from sideways, preventing further injury, expecially if the injury is caused to the MCL or LCL. However, a knee brace may not be ideal for all knee ligament injuries.
Physiotherapy may be useful after some knee ligament injuries. Physiotherapy may assist in improving the range of movement the injured joint is able to use. Exercises may also be recommended to strengthen the muscles that support the knee joint, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings and tibialis anterior to prevent further and future injury to that ligament. If a person will be having surgery, they often may be advised to have physiotherapy before the operation.
Sometimes surgery may be suggested after a knee ligament injury if: A very physically active person has injured their ACL
More than one knee ligament has been injured or a knee ligament has been injured along with another part of the knee (not a ligament)
The LCL has been ruptured Whether or not to use surgery depends on:
The individual
The activities and sports they do
How active their lifestyle is
Their underlying health
Other knee injuries that they may also have It may be advised to wait a few weeks after injury before the operation so that: Swelling can derease
The person has more movement back to the knee
They built up strength in the supporting muscles ACL injures are usually treated with surgery. There is currently debate about the best way to treat PCL injuries - with surgery, or without surgery. Surgery is not often needed for MCL or LCL injuries.
1st Degree Sprains: usually heal within a couple of weeks. Ligament strength will be normal after six weeks when the collagen fibres found in ligaments are repaired. Resting from activity, icing the injury, and taking anti-inflammatory medications help. Physiotherapy will speed up healing with electrical modalities, massage, strengthening and joint exercises to guide the fibres in the right direction while healing. This helps prevent future tears. 2nd Degree Sprains: weight-bearing braces or taping is used in early treatment. This helps avoid stretching which may disturb healing. the person can return to activity once the joint is stable no longer painful. This may take up to six weeks. Physiotherapy helps speed up the process. This helps to prevent a future tear and returns the ligament to pre-injury state. 3rd Degree Sprains: usually wear a hinged knee brace to protect the injury from weight-bearing stress. These injuries are most successfully treated with physiotherapy and may not return the person to their normal activity for 3 to 4 months. Surgery may be recommended. If surgery has been done for the ACL, it takes approoximately six months before the person can return to regular activity. In general, surgery to reconstruct an ACL is successful in around 8-9 out of 10 people. If the PCL has been treated using surgery, it can take between 9 to 12 months before complete recovery. After a sprain or partial tear to the MCL, the ligament usually recovers in three months.
If there is a complete tear, recovery may take longer but most people are back to usual activity after 6-9 months. This will be the same for LCLs if injured, which is rare.
Radamel Falcao Garcia, one of the best soccer players in the world suffered an ACL injury. There was worry amongst the team as the Fifa World CUp 2014 was near and Falcao may not fully recover by then. Although he missed the world cup, he had surgery and is currently fully recovered.
Keenan Allen, a football player, suffered a PCL tear with the 2013 NFL just two weeks away. As his was a 2rn degree injury, surgery was not necessary. Additionally, the PCL has very good self-healing abilities, allowing him to recover quickly.
Willis McGahee, a football player's knee was hit awkwardly during a tackle by Chargers' cornerback Quentin Jammer. It was later reported that McGahee suffered a torn MCL and right lower leg fracture. McGahee previously also tore his ACL and PCL.
Washington Redskins quarterback, Robert Griffin III suffered an LCL injury for the second time while playing against the Seattle Seahawks. The injury was serious enough to keep him out of the game for a significant amount of time. He had also suffered an ACL injury during the
hit.
R est the affected knee. Consider crutches to keep the weight off the knee. However, many doctors say not to keep the knee unmoving for too long. It's best to start some exercises to keep the joint moving.
I ce should be applied as soon as possible after the injury - for 10-30 minutes. Do not put ice directly on skin, as it may cause ice-burn - use a cloth. The cold reduces blood flow to the damaged ligament. This may limit pain and swelling.
C ompression with a bandage will limit swelling, and help rest the joint. A tubular compression bandage can be used. Mild pressure that is not too tight or stop blood flow is ideal. The bandage may be removed after 48 hours. This is because …show more content…
the bandage may limit movement of the joint which should be moving more freely now.
E levation is to limit and reduce any swelling. The knee must be elevated above the level of the heart to reduce bloodflow.
H eat - like hot baths, saunas. Heat has the opposite effect to ice on the blood flow. That is, it encourages blood flow. So, heat should be avoided when inflammation occurs. However, after 72 hours, no more inflammation likely develops and heat may then be calming
A lcoholic drinks, which can increase bleeding and inflammation and decrease repair
R unning or other exercise that may cause further injury
M assage, which may increase bleeding and swelling. However, like heat, after 72 hours, massage may be calming
Pain medicine: doctors may prescribe pain medication to reduce pain in the joint. It is important to not wait until the pain is sever to take medication as that may reduce the speed of recovery or make the injury worse. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammataory Drugs (NSAIDs): such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling and pain. This medicine can be bought with or without a prescription. However, NSAIDs may cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If blood thinner medicine has previously been taken by a person for the injury, a doctor shoud be consulted to ensure NSAIDs are safe.
Some knee ligament injuries can be treated with knee braces. This is to support the knee while the damaged ligament heals. Knee braces usually work like a hinge joint, allowing some flexion and extension movements of the knee joint. The knee brace does not allow movement of the knee from sideways, preventing further injury, expecially if the injury is caused to the MCL or LCL. However, a knee brace may not be ideal for all knee ligament injuries.
Physiotherapy may be useful after some knee ligament injuries. Physiotherapy may assist in improving the range of movement the injured joint is able to use. Exercises may also be recommended to strengthen the muscles that support the knee joint, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings and tibialis anterior to prevent further and future injury to that ligament. If a person will be having surgery, they often may be advised to have physiotherapy before the operation.
Sometimes surgery may be suggested after a knee ligament injury if: A very physically active person has injured their ACL
More than one knee ligament has been injured or a knee ligament has been injured along with another part of the knee (not a ligament)
The LCL has been ruptured Whether or not to use surgery depends on:
The individual
The activities and sports they do
How active their lifestyle is
Their underlying health
Other knee injuries that they may also have It may be advised to wait a few weeks after injury before the operation so that: Swelling can derease
The person has more movement back to the knee
They built up strength in the supporting muscles ACL injures are usually treated with surgery. There is currently debate about the best way to treat PCL injuries - with surgery, or without surgery. Surgery is not often needed for MCL or LCL injuries.
1st Degree Sprains: usually heal within a couple of weeks. Ligament strength will be normal after six weeks when the collagen fibres found in ligaments are repaired. Resting from activity, icing the injury, and taking anti-inflammatory medications help. Physiotherapy will speed up healing with electrical modalities, massage, strengthening and joint exercises to guide the fibres in the right direction while healing. This helps prevent future tears. 2nd Degree Sprains: weight-bearing braces or taping is used in early treatment. This helps avoid stretching which may disturb healing. the person can return to activity once the joint is stable no longer painful. This may take up to six weeks. Physiotherapy helps speed up the process. This helps to prevent a future tear and returns the ligament to pre-injury state. 3rd Degree Sprains: usually wear a hinged knee brace to protect the injury from weight-bearing stress. These injuries are most successfully treated with physiotherapy and may not return the person to their normal activity for 3 to 4 months. Surgery may be recommended. If surgery has been done for the ACL, it takes approoximately six months before the person can return to regular activity. In general, surgery to reconstruct an ACL is successful in around 8-9 out of 10 people. If the PCL has been treated using surgery, it can take between 9 to 12 months before complete recovery. After a sprain or partial tear to the MCL, the ligament usually recovers in three months.
If there is a complete tear, recovery may take longer but most people are back to usual activity after 6-9 months. This will be the same for LCLs if injured, which is rare.
Radamel Falcao Garcia, one of the best soccer players in the world suffered an ACL injury. There was worry amongst the team as the Fifa World CUp 2014 was near and Falcao may not fully recover by then. Although he missed the world cup, he had surgery and is currently fully recovered.
Keenan Allen, a football player, suffered a PCL tear with the 2013 NFL just two weeks away. As his was a 2rn degree injury, surgery was not necessary. Additionally, the PCL has very good self-healing abilities, allowing him to recover quickly.
Willis McGahee, a football player's knee was hit awkwardly during a tackle by Chargers' cornerback Quentin Jammer. It was later reported that McGahee suffered a torn MCL and right lower leg fracture. McGahee previously also tore his ACL and PCL.
Washington Redskins quarterback, Robert Griffin III suffered an LCL injury for the second time while playing against the Seattle Seahawks. The injury was serious enough to keep him out of the game for a significant amount of time. He had also suffered an ACL injury during the
hit.