Cruciate ligament tear: symptoms

Clemens Gödel is a freelancer for the medical team.

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The most common symptoms of cruciate ligament tear are pain, swelling, and bruising around the knee joint. The joint feels unstable and can "buckle away" even when the load is low (giving-way phenomenon). You can find out everything you need to know about cruciate ligament rupture & symptoms here!

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. S83

The most important cruciate ligament tear symptoms

Cruciate ligament rupture manifests itself as acute, violent pain at the moment of the accident. Some patients report a feeling of tearing or shifting in the knee. In the further course, the pain becomes particularly noticeable when exercising. The knee swells, which can limit movement in the joint.

Because smaller blood vessels are usually injured when a cruciate ligament ruptures, a bruise occurs in or around the joint. In addition, the knee feels unstable.

A cruciate ligament tear is not noticed immediately in every case. Sometimes those affected only become aware of the injury through unsteady gait and knee instability. If the cruciate ligament ruptures, the knee can buckle while walking (giving-way phenomenon), even with low stress.

Anterior cruciate ligament tear: symptoms

Some people feel and hear a distinct "crack" as soon as the anterior cruciate ligament ruptures. Mostly severe pain occurs, but it subsides again after a short time and a break. If the knee is put under pressure again, the pain may return. The knee is unstable ("wobbly knee"). Especially when going down stairs, the thigh shifts backwards compared to the lower leg, accompanied by pain.

Posterior cruciate ligament tear: symptoms

Even with a posterior cruciate ligament tear, many sufferers notice a crack in the knee. The shin shifts backwards in relation to the thigh, which is particularly noticeable when descending a staircase. People with a posterior cruciate ligament tear often compensate for the lack of joint stability in the knee by walking with the knee slightly bent. The posterior cruciate ligament also causes symptoms such as generalized anterior knee pain and discomfort when sprinting and braking.

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