Ligament injuries

Question 1

What are ligaments?

Answer 1

Dense bands of type 1 collagen fibres that span a joint

Question 2

What is the function of ligaments?

Answer 2

Offers joint stability through range of motion

Question 3

What causes ligament rupture?

Answer 3

Forces exceed ligament strength

Question 4

what are the stages of ligament healing?

Answer 4

Haemorrhage
Proliferative phase
Remodelling

Question 5

What happens in the haemorrhage phase of ligament healing?

Answer 5

Blood clot
Replaced with heavy cellular infiltrate
Hypertrophic vascular response

Question 6

What happens in the proliferative phase of ligament healing?

Answer 6

Production of scar tissue

Disorganised collagenous connective tissue

Question 7

What happens in the remodelling phase pf ligament healing?

Answer 7

Matric becomes more ligament like

Major differences in composition, architecture and function persist

Question 8

When is conservative management of ligament injuries used?

Answer 8

Partial rupture
stability
Poor candidate for surgery

Question 9

What are the indications for operative management of a ligament injury?

Answer 9

Instability
Expectation
Compulsory

Question 10

What are the types of surgery that can be done for ligament injury?

Answer 10

Repair
Replacement
Augmentation