Contrary to popular belief, cruciate ligament injuries are fairly common. They are commonly associated with sporting accidents which involve excessive stress and sudden shifts in direction, comparable to movements in basketball and soccer. Strong external forces, like that in a road accident, can also result in a ligament tear or rupture.

A cruciate ligament injury can be very painful and can severely restrict a patient’s mobility. It is highly recommended that immediate medical treatment be sought, as such injuries tend to have major complications.

DIAGNOSIS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE CRUCIATE LIGAMENT TEAR

Effective diagnosis begins with determining the severity of the injury as well as narrowing down the specific area affected.

Doctors perform the “Drawer test” to determine which of the ligaments in the knee is affected. Sophisticated imaging, like the use of an MRI or X-ray, is often used to assess the injury and study a patient’s symptoms.

A cruciate ligament tear occurs when the ligaments are stretched beyond their natural range of movement.

• In this case, a clear crack can be heard and a patient’s knee will swell up almost immediately.

• Patients will experience weakness and instability in the joint as well as significant pain, which intensifies under stress.

Most mild cases can be resolved with ample rest and rehabilitation.

However, there is long term degeneration of the ligament in chronic cases. The damage will stop the joint from stretching or bending, thereby severely restricting the mobility of the individual. More drastic measures such as surgical intervention may be required in severe ligament rupture cases.

WHAT IS ARTHRITIS IN THE KNEE?

Arthritis in the knee or knee osteoarthritis is a condition of wear and tear of the knee joint cartilage over a long period of time. It affects 20-40% of people over the age of 60 who experience knee pain. However, aging is not the only cause of this condition.

The degree of degeneration of the knee cartilage and the discomfort a person experiences from this condition depends on a person’s lifestyle. Reduced pain and the prevention of surgical knee replacement can be achieved with a healthy lifestyle.

TYPES AND CAUSES OF KNEE ARTHROSIS

• Primary osteoarthritis

• • It is the wear and tear of cartilage within the knee joint beyond the point that the body itself can repair. It has no distinct cause, although it is mostly related to aging, and some research suggests there may be a genetic link.

  • However, lifestyle factors can play a significant part in the development of knee arthritis and can influence the degree of its severity. Risk factors include a lack of physical activity.

• Secondary osteoarthritis

• • It is the degeneration of the knee joint that comes about from a predisposing condition that causes damage to the joint cartilage.

  • Factors include trauma to the knee from a sporting injury or accident, or from strong, repetitive loading of the knee, involved in certain occupations.

Arthritis in the knee can occur on the inner side of the knee joint to cause a bowed knee deformity or genu varus. Osteoarthritis of the outer portion of the knee joint creates a knocked knee deformity or genu valgus. Such wearing of one side of the knee can be due to a misalignment of the joint, among other factors.