Which characteristics identify a Grade II ligament injury?

A Grade II ligament injury is characterized by partial tearing of the ligament while still maintaining some overall continuity. This means that although individual fibrils of the ligament are torn, the ligament as a whole is not completely severed, allowing for a degree of stability to remain. This type of injury often presents with significant pain, swelling, and some loss of function, but the ligament's structural integrity is not fully compromised, which is a key distinction of a Grade II injury.

In contrast, a complete tear would be classified as a Grade III injury, which involves total disruption of the ligament and loss of function. No structural damage would correspond to a Grade I injury, where the ligament is mildly sprained without significant tearing. Lastly, a fully functional ligament would not indicate any injury and therefore does not align with the characteristics of a Grade II injury, as there is a partial compromise in function due to the tearing of fibrils.