Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) sprain

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) sprain - ligament outside the knee joint attaching the inside of the thigh bone to the leg bone. Injury to this structure typically results from a direct blow to the outside of the knee, causing the knee to buckle inward.

Other ligament injuries, meniscus injuries, or bone injuries can occur. Sign/symptoms include severe pain on the inside of the knee, instability, and/or limited knee motion and function.

Treatment

Treatment is generally conservative or nonsurgical for isolated MCL injuries and involves bracing and gradual protected range of motion of the knee, followed by physical therapy.

Surgery

Surgery is reserved for extremely unstable injuries of the knee involving multiple ligaments and involves a direct repair of the medial collateral ligament to the bone from which it was torn.