---
title: "Ligament Injuries"
---
## When a Ligament Lets You Down
Ligament injuries usually have a moment. The pivot that did not go right. The tackle. The fall. The twist on uneven ground. The pop you might have actually heard or felt. Then the swelling, the instability, and the realization that something inside the joint is not working the way it is supposed to.
Most patients arrive at consultation knowing roughly what happened. The questions are usually about what comes next: Will it heal on its own? Do I need surgery? Can I get back to my sport, and how fast? The honest answer is that ligament injuries vary significantly. Some heal well with conservative care, some respond well to regenerative treatments, and some require surgical evaluation, particularly young active athletes with complete ruptures of certain ligaments. What we offer is comprehensive evaluation and the regenerative side of ligament care, with honesty about which situations fit non-surgical treatment well and which call for surgical input.
## How Ligament Injuries Differ
Ligaments connect bone to bone and provide joint stability. Injuries range from mild stretching (Grade I) to partial tearing (Grade II) to complete rupture (Grade III), and they vary significantly by which ligament is involved.
ACL injuries are particularly important because the ACL has limited natural healing capacity; complete ruptures in young active athletes typically benefit from surgical reconstruction, while partial injuries and some complete tears in less athletic patients sometimes do well with non-surgical management plus regenerative support. MCL injuries typically heal well non-surgically. Ankle sprains are extremely common and most heal well with conservative care plus rehabilitation, though persistent instability may benefit from regenerative support. Shoulder labral injuries, wrist and hand ligament injuries, and spine ligament strains each vary by location and pattern. The right approach depends entirely on which ligament, the severity, and your activity goals.
## When Regenerative Treatment Fits
Regenerative options for ligament injuries are most appropriate for partial tears that are healing slowly or incompletely, chronic ligament problems that have not fully resolved despite appropriate rehabilitation, selected complete tears in patients who are not surgical candidates or who prefer non-surgical paths after careful discussion, and patients with persistent symptoms after appropriate initial care.
Regenerative treatment is typically not the primary answer for complete ACL ruptures in young active athletes returning to cutting and pivoting sports, acute injuries with significant instability requiring stabilization, or specific injuries with well-established surgical solutions that produce better outcomes. Honest framing matters: regenerative medicine is a meaningful addition to ligament care for the right patient, but it does not replace surgical reconstruction where surgery genuinely produces better outcomes.
## How PHI Approaches Ligament Injuries
The first step is comprehensive evaluation: a detailed history of the injury, an examination assessing the specific ligament and joint stability, review of imaging or a recommendation for MRI when needed, and an honest assessment of whether non-surgical regenerative care, surgical evaluation, or a coordinated approach fits best.
PRP therapy delivers concentrated growth factors that support tissue healing, with accumulating evidence for selected ligament injuries, particularly partial tears and chronic problems that have not fully resolved with rehabilitation. A2M therapy is considered where there is joint involvement alongside the ligament injury. Stem cell therapy is considered for selected injuries when PRP has been tried with insufficient response, and exosome therapy is used within comprehensive protocols. PHI uses image-guided technique at our Beverly Hills practice, coordinates with orthopedic surgical specialists for injuries that genuinely benefit from repair or reconstruction, and coordinates with physical therapy as a critical component of comprehensive ligament care.
## When to See Someone
Consider professional evaluation when an acute ligament injury has not significantly improved within several weeks, when you have persistent instability after a previous injury, when you are trying to decide between surgical and non-surgical approaches, when you want to understand whether regenerative options fit, or when conservative treatment alone is not producing adequate recovery.
Seek prompt evaluation for an acute injury with significant pain, swelling, or inability to bear weight, a sense of instability where the joint gives way, locking or catching that limits motion, or inability to perform basic functional tasks. Acute high-grade ligament injuries benefit from prompt evaluation to make appropriate decisions about acute management.
## Why PHI for Ligament Injuries
## Frequently Asked Questions
**Q: Will I need surgery for my ligament injury?**
This depends entirely on which ligament, how severe, and your activity goals. Many ligament injuries do not require surgery. Specific situations, such as complete ACL ruptures in young athletes returning to cutting sports or certain shoulder injuries with significant instability, more commonly benefit from surgical reconstruction. We are honest about which category your specific injury fits.
**Q: Can PRP fix my torn ligament?**
For partial ligament tears, PRP often supports healing meaningfully. For complete ruptures, PRP can support healing in selected situations but does not replace surgical reconstruction in most cases where surgery is the established standard. Realistic expectations matter.
**Q: How long does ligament recovery take?**
This varies dramatically by ligament and severity. Mild sprains may recover in weeks. Significant partial tears often require 3 to 6 months. Major reconstructions typically require 9 to 12 months for full return to high-level athletic activity. Regenerative treatments do not dramatically shorten these timelines but may support more complete recovery.
**Q: I had ACL surgery years ago and my knee still doesn't feel right. Can you help?**
Sometimes. Persistent symptoms after ACL reconstruction can have multiple sources including incomplete healing, secondary cartilage damage, residual instability, or other injuries that occurred at the same time. Comprehensive evaluation can identify which factors are involved and whether regenerative treatments may help.
**Q: What about ankle sprains that keep happening?**
Recurrent ankle sprains often involve incomplete healing of previous injuries, residual instability, and altered biomechanics. PRP combined with structured rehabilitation can support more complete healing, and persistent significant instability sometimes requires surgical evaluation.
**Q: How is regenerative treatment different from cortisone for ligament injuries?**
Cortisone reduces inflammation but does not support tissue healing and may weaken some tissue with repeated use. Regenerative treatments work over a longer time horizon to support tissue-level healing. For most ligament injuries in active patients, regenerative approaches fit better than repeated cortisone.
**Q: Is PRP banned by my sport?**
PRP is permitted by WADA and most major sports governing bodies. Some specific organizations have additional considerations for elite athletes; we discuss specifics during consultation if you compete at that level.
**Q: Do you take insurance?**
Insurance coverage and payment options may vary. Please contact our office to discuss your specific plan, available options, and pricing. All pricing is disclosed at consultation.
**Q: Do you accept international patients?**
Yes. PHI regularly treats patients from outside Los Angeles, including Las Vegas, Palm Springs, London, and other international locations.
## Treatments We Offer for Ligament Injuries
PHI offers regenerative treatments for selected ligament injuries. Your physician will recommend the right option, or a coordinated approach with surgical specialists, based on your specific injury and goals.
- PRP Therapy, for partial tears and chronic ligament problems
- Stem Cell Therapy
- A2M Therapy, where there is joint involvement alongside the ligament injury
- Exosome Therapy
> Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma augmentation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Peer-reviewed via PMC, 2025.
— [Tayyab M, et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12595583/)
> Clinical practice guideline: management of anterior cruciate ligament injuries. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
— [American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons](https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/lower-extremity-programs/anterior-cruciate-ligament-injuries/)
> WADA Prohibited List. World Anti-Doping Agency.
— [World Anti-Doping Agency](https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list)
## Schedule Your Ligament Injury Consultation
A 60-minute consultation will identify your specific ligament injury, walk through whether regenerative treatment, surgical evaluation, or a coordinated approach fits best, and give you a clear plan. Call (310) 856-9488 or book online now.
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