torn knee ligament

[CDKwan]

Hi,

  I had an accident last week in which I tore a knee ligament.  Definatley the MCL.  A few days ago,  I had an MRI in which to determine whether the ACL also was damaged.  Everyone I talked to that has had the ACL go out on them said they definatly heard a 'pop' at the time of the accident.  I did not hear a pop,  but my knee made an ugly distortion that did tear the MCL.
  If only the MCL ends up to be the only one torn,  the ortho.  Dr.  said there would problably be no surgery,  only if more then 1 ligament is torn.

  Anyone else here have a similar incident as mine?  Also,  I am 61 y.o.  and was in a martial arts tournament,  and during the board breaking event,  my left foot landed on one of my board holders shin leg,  and I twisted somehow,  and my knee went wacky.  I guess my other question is,  Is it possible that only one ligament could be torn,  or most of the time all of them get ripped up?
  I get my MRI reading on Wed.  of next week.

          Thank you for taking the time to read this!

                 Sincerely,    Dan

[shovon]

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

ID. No:D9510 Date January20, 2008
Patient’s Name Shovon Part Scanned Left Knee Joint
Age 32 Year(s) Sex Male
ReM, by Dr.FazolMobankMBBS,FIAGP, FCGP, CCP,

CLINICAL IFORMATION:
1. Traumato the left lcee joint on 2712.07.
2. Instability pain and difficulty in walk & flexion since then.

TECHNIQUE
SE TIWI sagittal, coronal, axial; FS T2WI sagittal, coronal axial; STIR coronal, FLASH coronal.

FINDINGS: *
1. Articular cartilage & bursae: On Ti & T2WI, evtdence of minimal subchondral low signal intensity (SI) with mild thickening of overlthg hyaline articular cartilage.

2. Menisous:
a. On sagittal Ti & T2WI shows, a horizontal hyperintense signal in the posterior horn of the medial menisous.
b. Ajdal T2WI reveals peripheral menisocapsular increased signal intensity.

3. Ligaments:
a. Coronal T2Wls & STIR images show high signal intensities in the course of anterior & posterIor cruciate ligaments and their femoral & tthial attachment.
b. On T2WI hyperintensities are also seen along the course of lateral collateral ligament too.

4. JoInt effusion: On T2WI & STIR images evidence of hyperintense trapped fluid between meniscal surfaces and huge fluid accumulation at suprapatellar recess-
5. Bones: On FLASH & T1WI hypointense, and on T2WI & STIR images hyperintense osseous contusion is seen at postero-lateral aspect cfthe lateral tihial condyle.

IMPRESSION:
MRI features are suggestive of traumatic
a. mild thickening of articular cartilage.
b. partial tear / injury to posterior horn of the medial menisous.
c. injury to anterior, posterior cruciate & lateral collateral ligaments,
d. huge intracapsular effusion, &
e. contusion at postero-lateral aspect of the lateral tibia! condyle.

Adv. Other adjuvarn examinations may include arthroscopy) for further evaluation, please-

With compliments for kind referral,

----------------------------------------------------
MBBS (DU). DTM (Nagasald)., Ph.D. (Japan).
Fellow-Resident, Nagasal University Hospital
Chief Consultant, Thn Sina Medical Imaging Center
This is only a professional opinion and not a diagnosis- hence it should be clinically correlated.

[JainMD]

Hi Kwan,
How are you feeling?
Answers to your question are as follows;
Is it possible that only one ligament could be torn, or most of the time all of them get ripped up?
+ Yes it is possible for only 1 ligament to be injured as it depends upon the type and severity of your injury. You can have only medial ligament injury or lateral ligament injury.
If the patient has a ligament injury, the patient will report a deceleration injury or twisting the knee that led to immediate symptoms of swelling and pain.
In fact, 30 to 50% of patients will report actually hearing a “pop” at the time of injury.
In contrast, patients with meniscus injuries may have a similar mechanism of injury (twisting or deceleration), but the patient will not notice swelling (if swelling occurs at all) until minutes or hours after the injury. There is also no “popping” sensation or sound in meniscus injuries.
This explains why you also have meniscus injury reported on MRI.
I think with the amount of injury you have as suggested by MRI report, it is better that you go in for arthroscopy and see the anatomical disruption of your knee joint.
Keep me informed about what the doctor has to say?
What line of management he is planning?
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.

[JainMD]

Hi,
Can you tell me are you the same patient as earlier post i.e. Mr. Kwan?
If not then I am sorry as I read the earlier post clinical features and MRI report of yours.
I think you have extensive ligament damage as suggested by your MRI report.
I think you need to go in for arthroscopy for further evaluation and therapeutic intervention if possible.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.

[Pony100]

I have a "worn" ligament in the knee from 2 previous falls.  It was shown in an MRI.  What can be done for this.  I am diabetic and really fearful of the injury.  There is also a cyst formed on the outside of the
knee.  When lanced it didn't drain anything.

[MICHELYNEMIDGE]

getting an injury while you are a diabetic is very crucial. I would suggest you to immediately see some orthopedic specialist to cure your knee ligament injury.