Ligament Damage Guide

Ligaments connect your bones together and hold your organs and blood vessels in place. Damage to the ligaments around a joint are usually caused by twisting impacts. Damage to the membranes is less common, but is usually caused by your body stopping suddenly and your organs continuing to move.

Ligaments are like elastic bands, they will stretch until they can go no further and then break. Constant high tension, such as a dislocated joint, can stretch them permanently and cause ongoing instability within a joint.

Damaged ligaments can sometimes be repaired. Ligament damage is usually linked to other injuries, such as a broken leg or knee cap.

What to look for

Swelling will probably appear around the joint within 2 to 12 hours of initial injury and pain will be felt when you try to use the joint. The injury can often be overlooked, with patients being told they will recover with time.

To properly assess any damage may require a thorough examination, an MRI scan or even keyhole surgery.

How much?

Damage to internal fibres is not covered in the guidelines and there is limited information available on this type of injury separate from bone damage. That is why it is important to have a specialist solicitor assisting you.