Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
Illustration of the Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL)
Key Points
- LCL injuries in isolation are somewhat uncommon
- The LCL provides stability against stress to the outside of the knee
- Most injuries occur with trauma from an anterolateral blow to the knee
- The physician must rule out injuries to other structures of the knee (ACL, PCL, etc)
- Treatment depends on grading with grade I and II injuries usually being treated nonoperatively
Condition
- High risk sports: tennis, soccer and skiing/snowboarding
- LCL injuries are graded depending on laxity on examination
- Graded 1 (5 mm of laxity), grade 2 (6 – 10 mm), grade 3 (> than 10 mm)
- Most common etiology is an anterolateral blow of the knee
Symptoms
- Classically presents as pain in the lateral knee and fibular head
- Pain may make it difficult to walk immediately
- Pain usually localized to the injury but swelling in the area may occur
- Instability may occur with running and cutting or with planting/twisting with walking
Treatment
- Treatment depends on grading
- Nonoperative management most common with grade I and grade II injuries
- Grade I and II injuries are treated with early mobilization and physical therapy/rehabilitation
- Grade III injuries are most frequently treated surgically with LCL reconstruction
- LCL repair may be indicated if bony avulsion, though nonoperative management has been proposed
Read More
Wiki Sports Medicine: https://wikism.org/LCL_Injury
