Which statement best describes a grade 1 ligamentous injury?

Which statement best describes a grade 1 ligamentous injury?

• A. Stretch of ligament
• B. On MRI there will be superficial high signal to the ligament but the ligament itself appears normal
• C. Little or no instability
• D. Moderate swelling

Answer: (C)

Grade I ligament injury is a mild sprain with minimal damage to the fibers and preserved stability of the joint. The ligament may be stretched or have only microscopic tearing, and there may be edema within the ligament on imaging, but the fibers remain continuous and there is no meaningful laxity on stress testing. That’s why “little or no instability” best describes this grade. Moderate swelling suggests a higher-grade injury, and a stretch or micro-tear alone can occur but the key clinical clue is the lack of instability.

Grade I ligament injury is a mild sprain with minimal damage to the fibers and preserved stability of the joint. The ligament may be stretched or have only microscopic tearing, and there may be edema within the ligament on imaging, but the fibers remain continuous and there is no meaningful laxity on stress testing. That’s why “little or no instability” best describes this grade. Moderate swelling suggests a higher-grade injury, and a stretch or micro-tear alone can occur but the key clinical clue is the lack of instability.