Combined Knee Ligament Injury Treatment in Illinois

Experienced Orthopedists Dedicated to Helping You Walk Comfortably Again

The human knee joint is a complex mechanism, relying on bones, cartilage, and other soft tissue to function as it should. The joint’s three bones are connected by tough, resilient bands of tissue, which facilitate the knee’s back and forth range of motion. These major ligaments joint the thigh bone (femur) and the shin (tibia), helping align and stabilize the joint. The kneecap (patella) covers and protects the ligaments behind it, but contact injuries and awkward twisting force, particularly with a planted foot, can damage them. Its interconnected structure makes the joint particularly vulnerable to combined knee ligament injuries, which more than one is torn.

Cause of Combined Knee Ligament Injuries

Complex, combined knee injuries occur when the tibia becomes separated from the femur, causing more than one ligament to tear. Multiligament injury can be serious, particularly when three or four of the major ligaments sustain damage and the knee dislocates. Substantial force is required to sprain or tear multiple knee ligaments, often resulting from a car accident, fall, or sports injury. Without proper, timely treatment, such injuries can cause permanent damage and loss of joint function.

Description of Combined Knee Ligament Injuries

Several ligaments work in unison, providing stability to the knee joint. On the sides, collateral ligaments are responsible for side to side movement, stabilizing the joint against side force. Inside the knee joint, directly behind the patella, cruciate ligaments control the front to back motion of the knee. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), on the front structure, is frequently injured during athletic activities, but the posterior cruciate ligament is also vulnerable to tears. Combined knee ligament injuries take place when more than on tears as the result of a single incident or injury.

Symptoms of Combined Knee Ligament Injuries

When the injury occurs, you may hear a “popping” noise and feel your knee give out.

Common symptoms of combined knee ligament injuries include:

• Pain with swelling within 24 hours that may or may not make the knee stiff and cause a limp
• Instability in the knee joint, or the feeling that the knee is giving way
• Pain at the sides, inside, or outside of the knee
• Loss of full range of motion
• Tenderness along the joint line
• Discomfort while walking or difficulty walking

At Fox Valley Orthopedists, our goal is to get you walking comfortably again with minimal to no pain. Contact us now at (630) 584-1400 to see how we can help.