Knee Collateral Ligament Injuries Glenwood Springs, CO

Understanding Collateral Ligament Injuries in the Knee

The physicians at ValleyOrtho treat a wide range of common knee injuries, including collateral ligament injuries.

There are 2 collateral ligaments in each knee. They connect the lower end of the thighbone (femur) to the upper end of the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula).

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a flat band ligament located on the inside, or “medial” side of the knee and keeps the knee from bending inward.

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is cord-like ligament on the outer side, or “lateral” side of the knee and keeps the knee from bending outward. It is less frequently sprained as the MCL, but can be injured when a direct force is applied to the inside of the knee.

What is an MCL injury?

A MCL injury is a sprain or tear to the medial collateral ligament. It can be injured during activities that involve bending, twisting, quick changes of direction or a direct blow to the outside of the knee.

Mild or grade 1 injuries usually get better in 1 to 3 weeks.
Moderate or grade 2 injuries usually get better in about 4-6 weeks.
Severe or grade 3 injuries may require wearing a brace and limiting weight on the leg for 4 to 6 weeks.

What is an LCL injury?

A LCL injury is a sprain or tear to the lateral collateral ligament. It also can be injured during activities that involve bending, twisting, quick changes of direction or a direct blow to the inside of the knee.

Mild or grade 1 injuries usually get better in 1 to 3 weeks.
Moderate or grade 2 injuries usually get better in about 4-6 weeks.
Severe or grade 3 injuries may require wearing a brace, and limiting weight on the leg for 4 to 6 weeks.

What Are the Symptoms of Knee Collateral Ligament Injuries?

Understanding the signs of a collateral ligament injury can help you recognize when to seek medical care.

Pain: Pain is often felt on the inside or outside of the knee, depending on the ligament affected. The pain may be sharp or dull and can worsen with activity.
Swelling: Rapid swelling around the injured area is common and can be accompanied by warmth and tenderness.
Tenderness: The area of the ligament may be tender to the touch.
Bruising: Bruising on the affected side of the knee is often seen within a few days of the injury.
Loss of range of motion: Difficulty bending or straightening the knee may occur due to pain, swelling, or instability.
Instability: The knee may feel "wobbly" or unstable, especially when engaging in activities that require twisting or pivoting.

If you're concerned about a potential collateral ligament injury, our team at ValleyOrtho is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Diagnosing Knee Collateral Ligament Injuries

It is important to make an accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatment plan can be prescribed and followed. The team at ValleyOrtho will assess the mechanism of injury and check knee range of motion, swelling, tenderness. Imaging may be ordered including X-ray and/or an MRI in order to rule out any other injuries to the knee.

How to Treat Knee Collateral Ligament Injuries

With appropriate rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medicine most MCL injuries can be treated and heal without surgery. The physicians at ValleyOrtho may also recommend physical therapy to increase the knee range of motion, decrease the swelling and strengthen the musculature surrounding the hip and knee joints. LCL injuries may need to be surgically repaired or reconstructed to re-establish normal stability to the knee joint more often than MCL injuries.

A more severe tear may require surgery to restore normal mechanics and stability to the knee joint. This is often the case when multiple structures in the knee are injured.