Answer:

Knee ligament tears are common football injuries. They occur from excessive force directly impacting the joint or sudden directional changes. Ligament injuries fall into three grades, each requiring different treatments.

Grade one: This mild injury damages the ligament without causing a tear or only a minor partial tear. Patients can manage this at home using the RICE method:

Rest until the injury fully recovers, limiting movements that stress the knee joint.

For the first few days post-injury, apply ice for 15-30 minutes, with at least two hours between sessions, to reduce pain and swelling.

Compress the injured knee joint with a bandage to reduce swelling and pain.

Elevate the injured leg to decrease blood flow to the tear, effectively reducing inflammation.

Grade two: This moderate injury involves a partial ligament tear, causing abnormal joint looseness. Beyond the RICE method, patients may use a brace for faster recovery. The injury's location and extent dictate brace usage duration.

Grade three: This severe injury involves a complete ligament rupture, resulting in total loss of ligament function and almost complete loss of joint mobility. Doctors typically recommend "all inside" arthroscopic surgery to reconstruct the torn ligament using an autograft tendon or an artificial ligament. This minimally invasive technique minimizes damage, blood loss, and promotes faster recovery.

Doctor Dai Duong explains knee ligament injuries to a patient. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Your minor tear means the ligament is already damaged. Continuing high-impact sports like football risks worsening the tear, causing a complete rupture, or even damaging the meniscus. To accurately assess the injury and determine suitable treatment, consult orthopedic trauma or sports medicine specialists.

For a grade one injury, full recovery and return to sports may take 4-6 weeks. A grade two injury requires a locked brace for about 4-6 weeks, combined with active rehabilitation, with a return to sports typically taking 3-6 months. If surgery is necessary, recovery can extend to approximately 6 months.

Doctor Nguyen Dai Duong

Level 1 Specialist in Orthopedic Trauma

Tam Anh General Clinic District 7