Which statement best describes a grade 2 ligamentous injury?

• A. Severe sprain or partial tear
• B. On MRI a high signal is seen and there may or may not be partial disruption of the ligament
• C. Minimal to moderate instability
• D. Complete tear

Answer: (C)

A grade 2 ligamentous injury represents a partial tear with enough damage to cause some loss of ligament integrity, producing instability under stress but not a complete rupture. The key idea is the presence of laxity that is more than a mild stretch but not total, so you’d expect minimal to moderate instability on clinical stress testing. Imaging like MRI can show edema and partial fiber disruption, which can accompany grade 2 injuries, but the defining feature is the functional instability you can reproduce with stress. Therefore, the statement that best fits is that there is minimal to moderate instability.