MCL Tear
MCL-Medial Collateral Ligament
MCL protects the inner knee and gets torn from a blow to the outer aspect of knee. Severe injuries often result in tears of other ligaments also. The ligament injury can vary from minor sprain to a complete tear. Surgery for the MCL is recommended only for complete tears and in multi-ligament injured knee. Both MCL repair and reconstruction are carried out according to the stage of injury.
MCL Repair & Reconstruction
Lateral Collateral Ligament & PLC
The lateral (outer) aspect of the knee is protected by a group of structures called the Posterolateral Complex (PLC) that include the LCL (lateral collateral ligament) and the PFL (popliteofibular ligament). Unlike the MCL, they don’t heal readily and are more prone to result in disability. Repair is carried out if the injury is less than 3 weeks old, and beyond that, a reconstruction with a tendon graft is preferred.