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Medial Collateral Ligament Tear, Sports Medicine

Claudia Dal Molin, DO and Delmas Bolin, MD, PhD, FACSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

ANATOMY: 
  • The medial collateral ligament (MCL) has a single origin on the femur but two separate insertions on the tibia 1.

  • The distal attachment of the superficial MCL is just >6 cm distal to...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Mechanisms of injury:

    • Closed chain injury:

      • In contact/collision sports, an acute blow to the lateral aspect of the knee when the foot is planted results in valgus stress.

    • Open chain inju...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • GRADE I and II INJURIES:

    • PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are first line.

    • Weight-bearing as tolerated, wi...

ONGOING CARE

COMPLICATIONS

The Pellegrini-Stieda lesion can be seen on radiographs. It represents calcification of the previously injured MCL. 

REFERENCES

1
Stannard JP. Evaluation and treatment of medial instability of the knee. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev.  2015;23(2):91–95.
2
Roach CJ, Haley CA, Cameron KL, et al. The epidemiology of medial ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Roth J, Taylor DC. Management of acute isolated medial and posteromedial instability of the knee. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev.  2015;23(2):71–76.

  • Westermann RW, Spindler KP, Hettric...

CLINICAL PEARLS

Common questions and answers: 
  • Q: How long until I can play again?

  • A: For most sports, athletes with grade I injuries return in an average of 10 days. Those with grade II sprains may ret...

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