Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
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Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
The medial collateral ligament is the most important valgus stabilizer i.e. it prevents side to side movement of the knee.
Injury and Symptoms
It is usually seen after a direct blow or a valgus stress to the
knee, common
in sports like football, kabaddi
and basketball. It is very commonly associated with an anterior cruciate
ligament injury. In the acute phase, there
may be increased pain, swelling and difficulty in walking. In the more
chronic
phase, patients feel pain in the
inside part of the knee and unstable with a sense of falling down. A
thorough
physical examination, stress X-rays
and MRI are necessary to diagnose this injury.
Treatment
Most medial collateral ligament injuries can be treated non surgically with
appropriate bracing and rehabilitation. It is important to know that even minor
injuries need to be treated immediately with the right treatment to allow the
ligament to heal and prevent the need for surgery. Delay in treatment can be
associated with inferior outcomes. In cases of severe injuries or other ligament
injuries, a MCL repair or reconstruction becomes necessary. There are a variety
of procedures with different grafts that are available. The individualized
repair or reconstruction technique depends on the patient anatomy, age, presence
of rotation instability, concomitant injuries and activity levels.
Consult your doctor to formulate a treatment plan for your personalized needs.