Injury to a joint capsule with damage to ligaments, presenting with immediate pain and tenderness and delayed swelling and discoloration, is a

• A. Strain
• B. Dislocation
• C. Sprain
• D. Fracture

Answer: (C)

This item tests recognizing a sprain—the ligamentous injury around a joint, often with damage to the joint capsule. The described pattern of immediate pain and tenderness with swelling and bruising that appears after a delay fits soft tissue injury of the ligaments and capsule. A strain, by contrast, involves muscle or tendon and would center on muscle weakness or cramping rather than joint-located tenderness. A dislocation features the bones out of their normal position and usually presents with obvious deformity and instability. A fracture is a break in bone and typically shows point tenderness over a bone, deformity, or crepitus. So the presentation aligns with a sprain. If addressing care, immobilize the area, apply cold, elevate, and assess distal neurovascular status.