Ligaments and Injuries

Question 1

What are ligaments?

Answer 1

Dense bands of collagenous tissue
Spans a joint, bone - bone
Provide stability through ROM

Question 2

Structure of ligaments?

Answer 2

Collagen fibres
Fibroblasts
Sensory fibres
Vessels
Crimping (allow stretch)

Question 3

What causes ligament rupture?

Answer 3

Forces > strength

Question 4

What are the stages of ligament repair?

Answer 4

Haemorrhage
Proliferative phase
Remodelling

Question 5

What are the features of haemorrhage

Answer 5

blood clot
resorbed
replaced with a heavy cellular infiltrate
hypertrophic vascular resposne

Question 6

Features of proliferative phase?

Answer 6

Production of ‘scar tissue’

Disorganised collagenous connective tissue

Question 7

Features of remodelling

Answer 7

Matrix becomes more ligament like

Question 8

Treatment for ligament injuries

Answer 8

Conservative

Operative (repair, augmentation, replacement)