Edward V. Craig, M.D: InjuryDetail: Medial Collateral Ligament Injury
 
Injuries and Conditions: Knee: Medial Collateral Ligament Injury: Medical Details
 
Overview
An MCL injury occurs when the medial collateral ligament becomes damaged through a pull, twist, tear or other disruption of the knee. An injured MCL reduces the stability of the knee and decreases the medial support of the knee during athletic activity.
  • Injuries can vary in severity, ranging from a minor sprain to a complete tear of the ligament.
  • Injuries usually occur during an activity involving a direct blow to the knee or lower leg, especially when the knee is bent and the lower leg is forced inward.
  • An MCL injury is one of the most common ligamentous injuries occurring around the knee.
  • Less serious injuries are treatable with physical therapy alone, although a completely torn ligament may require surgery. MCL surgery reconstructs the ligament by repairing a partial tear or through the re-attachment of a complete tear to the bone, depending upon the site of injury.



  • Anatomy 


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