Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tear
What is a Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tear?
The collateral ligaments of the knee joint are tissue structures that lie outside the joint and provide side-to-side stability to joint. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) runs along the inner side of the knee between the femur and the tibia and provides stability to the inner side of the joint. The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) runs along the outer side of the knee between the femur and the fibula head and provides stability to the outer side of the joint.
The MCL is one of the most commonly injured ligament. The injury is frequently caused by contact to the outer side of the knee and leads to the knee buckling inwards which leads to a varied spectrum of injuries from sprain to partial tear and full tear of the MCL. In comparison, the LCL injuries are rare.
Symptoms of Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tear
If a fragment of cartilage is damaged or breaks away, it can cause:
Treatment options
This depends on how severely the ligament has been damaged, and whether other ligaments are also affected. If only the MCL is damaged, it is usually possible to treat it without surgery using a simple knee brace that holds the knee in a bent position for 4-6 weeks.
However, if the tear is serious (ligament is pulled off the tibia bone) or other ligaments are affected, surgical treatment with either augmented repair or reconstruction may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
In a total knee replacement, the entire knee joint surface is replaced – the ends of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and usually the underside of the kneecap are all resurfaced with artificial components. In a partial knee replacement (PKR), also called unicompartmental knee replacement, only the damaged compartment of the knee is replaced, leaving healthy bone, cartilage, and ligaments intact.
Diagnosis involves understanding a history of your symptoms, examining your knee, and using imaging such as X-rays to assess cartilage wear and joint alignment. In some cases, additional scans such as CT or MRI scans may be required to either exclude other conditions or quantify the degree of arthritis.Some patients develop patellofemoral pain syndrome in the absence of any bone, joint or soft tissue abnormalities. However, most patients with the syndrome present with one or more abnormalities related to bone anatomy, joint anatomy and/or soft tissue.
Although knee arthritis can affect anyone, there are several factors that can increase the risk of arthritis:
- Genetic predisposition
- Previous knee injury or surgery
- Other joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout
- Occupations involving heavy manual work
- Age (over 40)
- Female gender
- Being overweight or obese
- Participation in high impact activities or sports (e.g. running, soccer or rugby)
Knee arthritis typically develops as a result of progressive cartilage wear within the joint. This process may occur naturally with age or be accelerated by factors such as previous injury, altered joint alignment, or increased mechanical load.
In some cases, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can also contribute to joint degeneration.
