Supraspinous ligament injury

　　1. Etiology

　　Mostly caused by a sudden force that bends the spine forward.

　　2. Pathogenesis

　　Mostly caused by a sudden force that bends the spine forward, therefore, it is more common during heavy physical labor or intense sports. When it breaks, patients may feel a sudden noise, followed by a sensation of the waist being 'broken', losing the sense of support, and it is more common in the lower back. Severe cases often occur simultaneously with interspinous ligament injury.

　　1. Interspinous ligament:It is a tendinous tissue connecting two spinous processes, composed of three layers of fibers, which are arranged in an interlaced manner, making them prone to wear. These two ligaments mainly prevent excessive anterior flexion of the spine and often occur simultaneously. Since there is no supraspinous ligament at L5-S1 and it is located between the movable lumbar vertebrae and the fixed sacrum, it is subjected to the greatest force, so the chance of interspinous ligament injury at this location is also the highest.

　　2. Clinical manifestations of interspinous ligament injury:Most have no history of trauma. Long-term lumbar pain is more obvious when bending over, but due to the compression of the injured interspinous ligament during extension, pain can also occur. Some patients may experience pain radiating to the sacrum or buttocks. During the examination, tenderness can be felt at the damaged ligament, but there is no redness or swelling. Sometimes, the supraspinous ligament can be felt sliding over the spinous process. Interspinous ligament injury can be confirmed by B-ultrasound or MRI.

　　1. Pain

　　There is severe pain at the site of the rupture, especially more severe when bending forward, which can be relieved when extending back, so the patient prefers to adopt a posture of 'tilting the head and挺腹'.

　　2. Limited activity

　　There is a significant limitation of lumbar movement, especially anterior flexion and rotation.

　　3. Tenderness

　　There is marked tenderness at the site of the ruptured interspinous ligament; for thin patients, when checking, if the site of the ruptured interspinous space is touched, there may be a depression sensation.

　　1. Warm up before exercise to warm up the joints first.

　　2. Do not exercise when tired, as this will cause delayed reaction and it is difficult to coordinate movements.

　　3. Strengthen the exercises of lower limb strength to ensure the stability and flexibility of the knee joint.

　　4. In sports, prevent rough actions from causing accidental injuries.

　　5. Pay attention to the warmth of the knee joint, and perform hot compresses and massage on the knee joint at regular intervals every day.

　　6. Avoid overexertion of the knee joint, try not to do knee squats.

　　7. Obese individuals should lose weight.

　　8. Avoid overloading during physical exercise.

　　At the time of diagnosis, in addition to relying on clinical manifestations, auxiliary examinations are also needed. This disease has no special findings on X-ray films. Magnetic resonance imaging can clearly show the location and degree of ligament rupture. This disease seriously affects the patient's daily life, so it should be actively prevented.

　　What kind of food is good for the body with supraspinous ligament injury:

　　Diet should be light and well-balanced. The patient's diet should be light and easy to digest, with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, a balanced diet, and sufficient nutrition. In addition, patients should avoid spicy, greasy, and cold foods.

　　I. Treatment

　　1. Mild cases should rest on a wooden bed for 3 to 5 days, and then be immobilized with a plaster waist belt and vest for 6 to 8 weeks in a supine extension position, while also exercising the lumbar and back muscles.

　　2. Severe cases can undergo exploratory surgery and repair, be immobilized with a plaster waist belt for 6 to 8 weeks after suture removal, and gradually get out of bed to move around. Pay attention to lumbar and back muscle functional exercises in the later stage.

　　II. Prognosis

　　The general prognosis is good.