Knee & Ankle Ligament Injuries: NEET PG Essentials
1. Knee Ligament Injuries
| Ligament | Clinical Test |
|---|---|
| ACL (Anterior Cruciate) | Anterior Drawer Test and Lachman Test (most sensitive). |
| PCL (Posterior Cruciate) | Posterior Drawer Test and Posterior Sag Sign. |
| MCL (Medial Collateral) | Valgus Stress Test. |
| LCL (Lateral Collateral) | Varus Stress Test. |
2. Ankle Ligament Injuries
- Most Common Injury: Inversion ankle sprain, affecting the ATFL (Anterior Talofibular Ligament) first.
- Injury Sequence: ATFL → CFL (Calcaneofibular ligament) → PTFL (Posterior Talofibular ligament).
- High-Yield Tests:
- Anterior Drawer Test (Ankle): Assesses ATFL integrity.
- Talar Tilt Test: Assesses CFL integrity.
3. Examination Pearls
- O’Donoghue’s Unhappy Triad: Classic injury combination of ACL, MCL, and Medial Meniscus tears.
- Syndesmotic (High Ankle) Sprain: Involves the distal tibiofibular ligaments; diagnosed with the External Rotation Stress Test and Squeeze Test. Prolonged recovery compared to standard sprains.
- Grade I–III Classification: Used for all ligamentous injuries (Grade I: stretch, Grade II: partial tear, Grade III: complete rupture).
- RICE Therapy: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation remains the first-line treatment for acute grades I/II injuries.