The knee has four ligaments that work together in concert. They act like strong ropes to hold the bones together and keep the knee stable for walking, pivoting, turning, and almost any athletic activity.  It’s bad when just one ligament like the ACL gets injured, but when two or three or even four get injured, the injury becomes exponentially more difficult to treat. These combined injuries can have serious complications: they can disrupt blood supply to the leg and affect the nerves that supply the muscles of the limb. In severe cases, combined ligament injuries may lead to amputation. That’s why it is vital to seek out the help of an orthopedic specialist with extensive experience in treating it. The place to start is Colorado Center of Orthopaedic Excellence in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where you can trust you’ll get the best of care.

OVERVIEW

What most people refer to as a “blown knee”, is usually an injury to one of the knee’s four major ligaments: the lateral collateral ligament (LCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). While serious and complex, combined ligament injuries are not as common as single ligament injuries like ACL tears. It is estimated that combined ligament injuries make up about 5-10% of all knee ligament injuries. Among athletes, particularly those in contact sports, the incidence can be slightly higher due to the nature of the activities and the increased risk of high-impact injuries.

ABOUT THE KNEE

The knee is the largest joint in the body and one of the most complex. It is the joint in the middle of the leg where the thigh bone and shin bone meet. The knee is a synovial joint. A fluid-filled sac that lubricates and protects the joint, lines the space between the bones. This extra cushioning helps them move with as little friction as possible. The knee is made not just of bones, but cartilage, muscles, nerves, and ligaments. The MCL on the inside of the knee, controls sideways motion. The LCL on the outside of the knee controls sideways motion. The ACL in the front of the knee controls forward motion. The PCL in the back of the knee controls backward motion.

WHAT IS A COMBINED LIGAMENT (BLOWN KNEE) INJURY?

Most knee ligament injuries involve a single ligament injury. A blown knee involves two, three, or four injured ligaments. Combined ligament injuries are graded on a severity scale:

Grade 1—Mild damage to one or more ligaments with the structures being slightly stretched. Often known as a minor sprain. The knee joint is stable.

Grade 2—Noticeable looseness in the knee. This means there have been larger tears in the ligaments, but they are not completely torn. Often known as a severe sprain. The knee is not stable.

Grade 3—Severe knee instability, and ligaments are completely torn. This is otherwise known as a rupture.

Together these injuries can cause serious complications.

Read more about Combined Ligament Injury on our new Colorado Springs Orthopedic News Site – Colorado Springs Orthopedic News. Schedule an appointment with a knee specialist today.