Knee Medial Collateral Ligament

Staying with our current topic of the knee, we are going to take a look at the medial collateral ligament. Easily strained with awkward manoeuvres and often does not show it´s injury for a day or two after the event occurred. This ligament has the tough job of protecting the knee from over rotating and angulating inwards.

Here are some examples.

Swift turns while playing squash or football

Parallel turns when skiing or twisting the knee inwards when falling.

Turning while squatting in a confined place.

A blow to the outside of the knee causing an internal angulation of the knee such as in a bicycle or road traffic accident.

A direct blow such as sustained in rugby or martial arts.

Ligaments attach bone to bone and have an elastic quality allowing our joints to “give” at the end of their range of movement. Ligaments are particularly important in the knee joint because it has little inherent stability. Unlike a “Ball and Socket Joint” such as the shoulder, the knee joint is comprised of shallow concavities between the thigh bone (Femur) and the shin bone (Tibia) and so this joint relies heavily on its ligaments and musculature for stability. The MCL is a wide, long ligament which also gives stability to the inner medial cartilage of the knee.

Screenshot 2016-02-16 16.57.00

Symptoms of Injury

Swelling of the inner aspect of the knee and possible bruising.

Tenderness on palpation of the inside of the knee joint.

Pain on full extension of the knee.

Walking is only comfortable on a slightly bended knee.

Difficulty running or managing stairs.

In the event of a full rupture of the MCL the knee will quickly swell up and become hot and red with widespread bruising and a loss of all function. In this case the sufferer should immediately seek medical attention as surgery may be required.

 

Treatment

If your knee is swelling soon after injury then compression, ice and elevation is the first treatment required.

Most injuries are often only recognised the next day when attempting to stand or walk. The same rules still apply with a good ice pack and rest.

If bruising is seen after 12 hours or so, this is a good indication that ligament fibres have been torn as the bruising (haematoma) is a sign of bleeding into the soft tissues. In this case it is important to see a Doctor or Physiotherapist to ascertain the damage.

There are specific tests which can be done to conclude the extent of ligament damage which include physical examination, ultrasound and magnetic resonance scanning.

Correct diagnosis is very important!! As already explained the MCL is crucial for knee stability and if left untreated can cause extra strain on other structures in the knee such as the Menisci (cartilages) and the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).

Your Physio will use cold therapy for the inflammation, Ultrasound or Interferential Diathermy and Electomagnetic therapy may also be used along with manual graduated stretching and manual techniques to ensure a good recovery of the MCL. Strapping or knee bracing may also be required and weight bearing may need to be restricted with the use of crutches.

Lack of attention to the problem could result in knee instability which can cause many future problems. The investigations however are quick and pain free. If you have any concerns about your knee stability do make an appointment with your Physio or Orthopaedic Specialist.

 

 

 

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