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  • MCL & LCL Injuries
Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
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Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Achilles Tendonitis
ACL Injuries
AC Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)
Ankle Sprain
Avascular Necrosis
Bicep Tendonitis
Bone Cancer
Bone Cysts
Bone Spurs
Bone Tumor
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Bulging Discs
Bunions
Burners & Stingers
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chondrosarcoma
Chordoma
Chronic Tendon Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Colles Fracture
Concussion
Contractures
Degenerative Joint Disease
Diabetic Foot Disease
Dislocations
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Sprain
Ewings Sarcoma
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Finger Injuries
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Foot Ulcer
Fractures & Breaks
Frozen Shoulder
Giant Cell Tumor
Golfers Elbow
Hammer Toes
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pointer
Instability
IT Band Syndrome
Jones Fracture
Labral Tear
Lisfranc Injury
Low Back Pain
Lower Body Pain
Malunion & Nonunion
MCL & LCL Injuries
Meniscus Tear
Metastatic Bone Disease
Morton's Neuroma
Neck Pain
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Nerve Compression
Numbness & Weakness
Osgood Schlatter
Osteosarcoma
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellofemoral Pain
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
Plantar Fasciitis
PVNS
Rotator Cuff Tears
Scaphoid (Wrist) Fracture
Severs Disease
Shin Splints
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Pain
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Sports Hernia
Sprains & Strains
Tendon & Ligament Injuries
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Tennis Elbow
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Turf Toe
Upper Body Pain
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Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) and Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Sprains

MCL and LCL sprains are commonly caused by contact sports or twisting movements, and symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, and instability at the knee joint. Treatment options range from conservative measures like rest, ice, compression, and elevation, to surgical intervention for severe sprains. Recovery time typically takes four to six weeks, depending on the severity of the sprain.

Looking for MCL and LCL Care?

Related services include:

  • Orthopaedics.
  • Sports Medicine.
  • Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.

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On this page

  • What Causes MCL and LCL Sprain Injuries?
  • What Are the Symptoms of MCL and LCL Sprain Injuries?
  • How Do You Diagnose MCL and LCL Sprain Injuries?
  • How Do You Treat MCL and LCL Sprain Injuries?

What Are MCL and LCL Sprain Injuries?

Medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) sprains are knee injuries.

The MCL is the ligament located on the inside of your knee joint. It links your thighbone (femur) and shinbone (tibia).

The LCL is the ligament located on the outside of your knee linking the thighbone and calf bone (fibula).

What causes MCL and LCL sprains?

The two most common causes of MCL sprains are when:

  • A player applies force to the outside side of your knee during contact sports, such as football and soccer.
  • You catch your foot in the ground and try to turn to the side, away from the planted leg.

An LCL sprain can occur if a player applies force to the inside of your knee during contact sports.

What are MCL and LCL sprain risk factors?

You increase your risk of an MCL or LCL sprain if you play contact sports, like football or soccer.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of MCL and LCL Sprains?

If you sprain your MCL or LCL, you may have symptoms such as:

  • Knee pain and swelling.
  • Tenderness over the injured ligament.
  • Weakness or instability at your knee joint.

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How Do You Diagnose MCL or LCL Sprains?

To diagnose an MCL sprain or a LCL sprain, your doctor will take a complete history of the injury and assess your symptoms.

He or she will ask you:

  • How the MCL or LCL sprain happened.
  • What type of movement caused the knee injury
  • Whether you heard a pop.
  • Where — and how much — your knee hurts.
  • Whether the knee feels unstable.
  • Details about any prior knee injuries.

Next, your doctor will perform a physical exam of the knee to check the stability of the ligaments.

He or she may also order imaging tests — such as x-rays and MRI scans — to get a precise picture of the extent of damage to your MCL or LCL.

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How Do You Treat MCL and LCL Sprains?

MCL or LCL sprain treatment depends on how severe the knee injury.

Doctors grade MCL and LCL sprains based on three levels of severity:

  • Grade I MCL or LCL sprain = damage to only a few knee ligament fibers.
  • Grade II = damage to a more extensive number of ligament fibers, but the ligament remains intact.
  • Grade III = complete tear of the knee ligament.

Treatment for Grade I or II MCL and LCL sprains

If you have a Grade I or Grade II MCL or LCL knee sprain, your doctor will likely prescribe the following treatments:

  • The R.I.C.E. method (rest, ice, compression, elevation).
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, for pain.
  • A knee brace for a short time.

Grade III MCL or LCL sprain treatment

For most Grade III MCL and LCL sprains, doctors will use many of the same conservative treatments as they do for less severe knee sprains.

These treatments may include:

  • R.I.C.E.
  • NSAIDs
  • Physical therapy exercises

For severe Grade III MCL and LCL sprains, doctors may perform surgery to repair the torn knee ligaments.

Recovery time for an MCL or LCL sprain is usually between four to six weeks. This may vary depending on the grade of your MCL or LCL sprain.

Return to Play program

You may be a candidate for the Return to Play program if you are an athlete who has been treated for a sports injury, completed physical therapy, and is looking for additional support to help you safely and confidently reengage with your sport.

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