Collateral Ligament (MCL/LCL) Injuries
The LCL and the MCL are designed to withstand large loads placed on the knee. As such, they are commonly injured via a direct blow to the side of the knee, with injury to the MCL being most common - Ralph Gambardella MD
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Collateral Ligament Sprain MCL/LCL
The MCL is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee and accounts for almost 8% of all athletic injuries. The primary mechanism for MCL injury involves application of a sudden outside to inside (valgus) stress such as a direct hit to the lateral knee, while the foot is planted. The incidence of MCL injury is higher in football, skiing, ice hockey, wrestling, rugby, and judo. The LCL is the least commonly injured ligament of the knee. The typical mechanism of LCL injury involves the opposite of what caused the MCL injury, which would be an inside to outside stress, which is usually combined with hyperextension of the knee.
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Collateral Ligament Tear (MCL, LCL)
The collateral ligaments of the knee are like leather bands that go from one bone to the other, providing stability to the joint. The MCL (medial collateral ligament) and the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) provide stability to the knee with side-to-side force. The MCL stabilizes the knee against a valgus stress (a force from the lateral aspect of the knee that stresses the medial side of the knee) and the LCL stabilizes the knee against varus stress (a force from the medial side of the knee that stresses the lateral aspect of the knee).
Just the Facts: Assessing and managing soft tissue knee injuries in the Emergency Department
As with other types of ligament tears, collateral ligament injuries are categorised as a grade 1, 2 or 3 injuries, where grade 1 is slightly stretched and grade 3 is a complete tear or rupture. The MCL is more frequently damaged than the LCL due it being easier to create a valgus strain versus a varus strain. These are often triggered by contact sport injuries or by a twisting injury with the planted foot stuck to the ground.
LCL/FCL Injury – Lateral Collateral Ligament and Fibular Collateral Ligament Injury
The LCL or lateral collateral ligament is also called the FCL or fibular collateral ligament. It is the main structure on the outside of the knee that provides stability during side-to-side motion and rotation. The LCL or FCL connects the femur (thighbone) to the fibula (small lower leg bone) and has flexibility to keep the knee stable throughout the range of motion, preventing injury to the knee joint. An injury to the LCL is usually caused by a great amount of force.
Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligament Injuries
Ligament sprains are the most common type of knee injury. The MCL and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are the most commonly sprained knee ligaments. The MCL is injured in at least 42% of ligamentous knee injuries, with isolated MCL injuries accounting for 29% of these injuries alone.
Medial and Lateral collateral Ligament Injuries
Injuries to the collateral ligaments occur with the following stresses – Varus stress to the LCL (inside to outside force) or valgus stress the MCL (outside to inside force). High-risk sports include rugby, football, gymnastics, mixed martial arts and soccer. Many times these injuries in athletics occur from contact. Falls and twisting injuries can also cause damage to these ligaments. Injuries to these ligaments are called tears or sprains. Ligament sprains are classified on a severity scale called grades.
Medial and Lateral Collateral Ligament Injuries (MCL and LCL)
These ligaments protect the knee against lateral movement and restrict it into a hinge-type motion. If a very high force is applied to either the medial (inside) or lateral (outside) ligament it can tear, with varying severity. The medial ligament is injured more often than the lateral ligament.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Sprains
MCL and LCL sprains are commonly caused by contact sports or twisting movements, and symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, and instability at the knee joint. Treatment options range from conservative measures like rest, ice, compression, and elevation, to surgical intervention for severe sprains. Recovery time typically takes four to six weeks, depending on the severity of the sprain.
PCL, MCL & LCL Knee Injuries
Similar to MCL injuries but in the opposite direction, LCL injuries can also result from abrupt pivoting and twisting of the knee. MCL and LCL injures are often seen in contact sports (football) and skiing accidents because of direct impact of a planted or fixed leg or with a sudden change in direction, respectively.
The ABCs of ACL, LCL, MCL, and PCL Injuries
The LCL is located on the outside(lateral) side of the knee and provides stability to the outer knee. The MCL is located on the inside(medial) side of the knee and provides stability to the inner knee. The LCL and the MCL are designed to withstand large loads placed on the knee. As such, they are commonly injured via a direct blow to the side of the knee, with injury to the MCL being most common.
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The MCL is injured more often than the LCL. Due to the more complex anatomy of the outside of the knee, if you injure your LCL, you usually injure other structures in the joint, as well.
