What is a ligament injury?

A ligament is a band of tough, flexible fibrous connective tissue which connects two bones or cartilages, or holds a joint together. When overstretched, tearing can occur in the ligaments.

One of the most commonly affected joints for torn ligaments is the knee, and there are three types of ligaments around the knee which may be injured.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major stabilizing ligaments in the knee. It is a strong rope-like structure located in the centre of the knee, running from the femur to the tibia. When this ligament tears unfortunately it doesn’t heal and often leads to the feeling of instability in the knee.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), situated in the back of the knee, is another ligament that connects the femur to the tibia. The PCL’s job is to keep the tibia from moving backwards too far.

Collateral ligaments are located at the sides of the knee, with the medial (inside) collateral ligament (MCL) connecting the femur to the tibia while the lateral (outside) collateral ligament (LCL) connects the femur to the fibula. These ligaments control the sideways movement of the knee joint.

Alan Bryant Andrew Knox

Background

An ingrown toenail or onychocryptosis may occur at any age and is the mostly commonly encountered toenail problem likely to be seen in general practice.^1–3

Objective

This article will discuss the common surgical approaches available for the management of an ingrown toenail.

Discussion

Ingrown toenail can be a painful condition that can become infected and may require surgical treatment. The epidemiology of onychocryptosis is difficult to determine as it is often considered to be a minor medical problem and as such has been some-what neglected in the literature. The few studies that have been conducted suggest a slightly higher male-to-female ratio, partic-ularly in the 14–25 age group,4 but it can affect patients of any age. There are multiple reasons why an ingrown toenail will de-velop, including improper nail cutting technique, tight-fitting footwear, trauma, anatomical factors such as thickening of the nail plate, pincer-shaped toenail, pressure from abutting digits caused by hallux valgus or lesser toe deformities, the presence of a subungual exostosis and, occasionally, the use of isotretinoin in the treatment of severe acne.^5–7

Management of ingrown toenail

This non-surgical treatment helps the body heal itself.

Have you noticed a sharp, stabbing pain at the bottom of your heel as you get up to go to the bathroom in the morning? Does the pain ease as you walk around a bit? If so, you might have plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a very common cause of heel pain in the United States. About two million Americans are treated for this condition every year, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Approximately ten percent of all Americans will suffer from plantar fasciitis in their lifetime.¹