Joint contusion

It is the trauma by direct impact that a joint suffers. Depending on the position of the latter at the time of the trauma and its magnitude, the contusion will be of greater or lesser severity, and even a joint fracture may occur.

sprain

It is a joint injury that affects the ligaments and capsule and is caused by an indirect forced movement, without the joint surfaces losing their contact permanently.

Sprain is the most common trauma in humans and can affect various joints (elbow, wrist, fingers, knee, ankle,…) It is an injury typical of the young adult, which affects both men and women, and is closely related to sports activity.

Treatment varies depending on the severity of the injury. In milder cases, without complete rupture of the ligaments immobilization followed by physiotherapy is recommended. However, in more severe cases with rupture of the extraarticular or intraarticular ligaments (e.g. anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee), surgical repair may be indicated.

luxation

They are trauma produced by an indirect mechanism and characterized by capsuloligamentary injury in which the joint ends lose their normal contact permanently.

The joint most exposed to dislocation is the shoulder, followed by the elbow, hip, ankle and hand.

Treatment of dislocation requires urgent reduction, followed by a study of the associated lesions. According to the extent of these lesions, the need to immobilize the joint and perform a physiotherapy treatment must be assessed; or the need for surgical repair of injured structures.