Ligaments are short, strong, and elastic bands of collagen fibers. While tears are uncommon during daily activities, they frequently occur due to injury. If a minor collision results in a diagnosed ligament tear, it could be due to several factors:

Sudden changes in direction can cause the body to continue rotating while the foot remains planted, creating twisting and lateral forces that exceed the collagen fibers' tolerance. This can lead to a ligament tear, particularly of the anterior cruciate ligament. This condition is common in sports requiring intense, rapid movements, such as soccer, basketball, badminton, and pickleball.

Repeated minor injuries from incorrect sports techniques, overexertion, or heavy labor, if left untreated or without sufficient recovery time, can cause ligaments to lose elasticity, gradually tear, and eventually rupture even from a minor impact.

A strong external force pushing the knee inward, causing it to open at an unusual angle, is often seen in traffic or workplace accidents. This impact can simultaneously rupture both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament.

Doctor Tan examines a patient's knee movement after surgery. Photo: *Tam Anh General Hospital*.

Ligament injuries often present with symptoms such as a "pop" sound or a sensation of dislocation inside the joint at the moment of injury, knee pain, swelling from inflammation within the joint or surrounding soft tissues, bruising, difficulty moving, and joint instability. However, not all ligament injuries manifest identically. In many instances, a ligament tear may lack clear symptoms. Patients might experience only mild pain and swelling around the joint, easily mistaken for a sprain or muscle strain. Some individuals can still walk, only noticing a weak, unstable knee after several weeks. Ligament tears resulting from accumulated minor injuries are the most frequently overlooked due to their subtle symptoms, persistent pain, and gradual joint looseness.

As you have been diagnosed with a ligament tear, seek treatment promptly as advised by your doctor. Without proper care, the injury can worsen, leading to rapid cartilage wear, reduced mobility, and an increased risk of future joint replacement. Currently, arthroscopy is a common technique for ligament reconstruction surgery, offering advantages such as high safety, reduced infection risk, minimal pain, and small surgical scars. Post-surgery, patients can typically regain near-normal movement and return to sports.

Master, Doctor CKI Phan Thanh Tan

Orthopedic Trauma Center

Tam Anh General Hospital Ho Chi Minh City