Medial Collateral Ligament

The MCL (medial collateral ligament), is one of the four major ligaments of the knee, it’s a band of tissue that runs along the inner aspect (medial) of your knee but it’s outside the joint itself .It helps to connect your shin and thigh bones to keep your knee stable and working properly when you move. Ligaments hold bones together and add stability and strength to a joint.

Causes

When your outer knee is hit very hard, the MCL, which runs along your inner knee, can stretch out far enough to strain or tear. You may also stretch or tear your MCL if your knee is suddenly pushed to the side, or if it twists or bends out too far.

Symptoms

• pain and tenderness along the inner part of your knee.

• Swelling, pain & stiffness of the knee joint.

• a feeling that your knee is going to give out when you put weight on it ( walking/standing )

• locking or catching in the knee joint.

Types of MCL injuries

• Grade 1  MCL injury – is the least severe. It means that your ligament has been stretched but not torn.

• Grade 2 MCL injury – your ligament has been partially torn. This usually causes some instability in your knee joint.

• Grade 3 MCL injury – most severe type of ligament injury. It means your ligament has been completely torn. Joint instability is common in a grade 3 MCL sprain.

Treatment 

Grade 1 & Grade 2 MCL injuries respond very well to non operative treatment.During the first 48 hours, RICE- Rest, Ice, compression, and Elevation should be used as much as possible.In general, incomplete tears of the MCL are treated with temporary immobilization with splint (knee brace) for few weeks.

• Grade 3 tear- you needs surgery

• Fresh injury within 1-2 week of injury can be repaired & original ligament can be saved 

• old injuries > 2-3 wk old needs Reconstruction of ligaments means replacing ligament with newer one with help of your own knee tendon graft.

MCL Repair/Reconstruction and Recovery:

After MCL surgery, the knee is maintained by Splinting or brace for 2-3 months.

Physiotherapy is started after an operation to recover movement of the knee and strength. Physiotherapy includes gradual knee bending then partial wt bearing ,it takes 2-3 months to fully recover.