Ligaments are strong bands of soft tissue that hold bones together, supporting the joints and preventing abnormal movement. They are important for stability and strength. 

It is common for ligament injuries to occur while playing sports like football, basketball and skiing. The classic injury scenario is a change in direction, or jump/landing that goes wrong, twisting the knee causing ligaments to stretch or tear.

Symptoms

Symptoms are varied and dependent on injury type and scenario, a significant number of patients after injury may experience:

• Hearing a ‘pop’ or ‘snap’
• Knee instability
• Inability to bear weight
• Swelling

Diagnosis

Our expert consultants will provide a swift and accurate diagnosis using the latest MRI, X-ray and Ultrasound technology at our state-of-the-art outpatient clinics. 

The majority of  examinations are performed within 48 hours of an initial consultation, and we aim to report on findings within the same day to ensure you can access treatment without waiting.

There are four main ligaments in the knee:

• The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which is the most common ligament to be injured, particularly for those skiing, playing football or basketball.
• The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) which crosses over on the inside of the knee, injury is usually the result of direct impact like in rugby or football during a tackle.
• The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is injured due to a blow on the outside of knee, particularly for hockey or football players.
• The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is on the sides of the knee joint.

Your condition and diagnosis will determine the best course of treatment for you, find out more about specific ligament injuries below.

This information is only a guideline to help you understand your condition/injury and what to expect. The symptoms of a ligament injury may resemble other conditions or medical problems, please contact us to arrange a consultation with an expert specialist for professional diagnosis.