Ligaments are generally located around joints and serve to stabilize them. Ligaments can be categorized as contusions, lacerations, or ruptures, depending on the degree of injury. Ruptures are the most serious and may cause joint instability. Symptoms of an injury include the following: 1) pain, 2) swelling, which may occur around or within the joint, and 3) instability of the joint, which may be partially stabilized in the case of a torn or contused lateral collateral ligament. If it is a rupture, it may cause instability of the joint. For example, injury to the lateral collateral ligament of the finger may cause subluxation or dislocation of the finger; injury to the medial collateral ligament of the knee may cause instability to the outside; after injury to the lateral collateral ligament, it may cause instability to the inside, leading to wobbling of the joint. If ligament injuries are not treated properly and appropriately, they may leave the joint unstable, dislocated, as well as possibly causing arthritis later in life.