Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMCL TearsSymptomsTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
MCL Tears
Symptoms
Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
The MCL spans the distance from the end of the femur (thigh bone) to the top of the tibia (shin bone) and is on the inside of theknee joint. The MCL resists widening of the inside of the joint, which can be thought of as preventing “opening-up” of the knee. If the MCL is completely torn, the injury will cause the joint to have an additional 2 degrees to 5 degrees of laxity. If other surrounding soft-tissues are damaged, then the amount of laxity will approximately double. The MCL is not the only restraint to excessive opening on the inner side of the knee, but it is the primary restraint to this movement.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
An injury to the MCL may occur as an isolated injury, or it may be part of a complex injury to the knee. Other ligaments, most commonly the ACL, or themeniscus, may be torn along with an MCL injury.
The most common symptom following an MCL injury is pain directly over the ligament. Swelling may appear over the torn ligament, and bruising and generalizedjoint swellingare common one to two days after the injury. In more severe injuries, patients may complain that the knee feels unstable, or it feels as though the knee may ‘give out’ or buckle.
Symptoms of an MCL injury tend to correlate with the extent of the injury. MCL injuries are usually graded on a scale of I to III.
One abnormality of the medial collateral ligament is the Pellegrini-Stieda sign, which is often seen in chronic MCL injuries. This abnormality is seen on an X-ray when calcium deposits are seen in the MCL. Typically, the calcium deposit is next to the attachment of the ligament to the end of the thigh bone. People with pain in this area are sometimes said to have Pellegrini-Stieda syndrome. Treatment of this condition typically responds to simple steps, although in rare cases the calcium deposit can be removed.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is one of four major ligaments responsible for knee stability. Others include the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The MCL is the ligament on the inside of the knee joint.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Michigan Medicine.Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries.Andrews K, Lu A, Mckean L, Ebraheim N.Review: Medial collateral ligament injuries.J Orthop. 2017;14(4):550-554. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.07.017Miyamoto RG, et al.Treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries.J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg. March;17:152-61.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Michigan Medicine.Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries.Andrews K, Lu A, Mckean L, Ebraheim N.Review: Medial collateral ligament injuries.J Orthop. 2017;14(4):550-554. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.07.017Miyamoto RG, et al.Treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries.J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg. March;17:152-61.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Michigan Medicine.Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries.Andrews K, Lu A, Mckean L, Ebraheim N.Review: Medial collateral ligament injuries.J Orthop. 2017;14(4):550-554. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.07.017Miyamoto RG, et al.Treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries.J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg. March;17:152-61.
Michigan Medicine.Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries.
Andrews K, Lu A, Mckean L, Ebraheim N.Review: Medial collateral ligament injuries.J Orthop. 2017;14(4):550-554. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.07.017
Miyamoto RG, et al.Treatment of medial collateral ligament injuries.J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg. March;17:152-61.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
