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Ligaments Injuries

Ligaments are dense tissue structures, similar to tendons, which connect bone to bone at the joints. Since they undergo both traction and torsion stresses, ligaments exhibit viscoelastic behaviour and great plasticity. Their fundamental function is to give the joint stability.

There are two types of ligament in the knee:

• Extra-articular: these are the internal lateral ligament and the external lateral ligament, whose function is to strengthen the joint capsules.
• Intra-articular: these are the anterior cruciate ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament, which behave like pivots for the correct rotation and stability of the knee.

In general there are three grades of ligament injury:

• Grade I: distension.
• Grade II: partial rupture.
• Grade III: total rupture.