Paper Lc

A Patient’s Guide to

Collateral Ligament Injuries

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2A Patient's Guide to Collateral Ligament Injuries

Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that
connect the ends of bones together. There are
two collateral ligaments, one on either side of
the knee, that limit side to side motion of the
knee. The medial collateral ligament (MCL)
is found on the side of the knee closest to the
other knee. The lateral collateral ligament
(LCL) is found on theopposite side of the
knee.

Introduction
The collateral ligaments are commonly
injured parts of the knee. An injury to these
ligaments usually involves a significant
force, such as a fall while skiing or a direct
impact to the side of the leg.
This guide will help you understand

If an injury causes these ligaments to stretch
too far, they may tear. The tear may occur in
the middleof the ligament, or it may occur
where the collateral ligament attaches to the
bone, on either end. If the force from the injury
is great enough, other ligaments may also be
torn. The most common combination is a tear
of the MCL and a tear of the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL). The ACL runs through
the center of the knee and controls how far
forward the shinbone (tibia) moves in relationto
to the thighbone (femur).
femur).

• where the collateral ligaments are
located
• how a collateral ligament injury causes
problems
• how doctors treat the condition
Anatomy
Where are the collateral ligaments, and what
do they do?
Common combination

MCL tears are more common than LCL tears,
but a torn LCL has a higher chance of causing
knee instability. One reason for this isthat the
top of the shinbone (called the tibial plateau)
forms a deeper socket on the side nearest the
MCL. On the other side, near the LCL, the
surface of the tibia is flatter, and the end of the
shinbone can potentially slide around more.
This difference means that a torn LCL is more
likely to cause knee instability.
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3

A Patient's Guide toCollateral Ligament Injuries

The LCL is most often injured when the
knee is forced to hinge outward away from
the body. It can also be torn if the knee gets
snapped backward too far (hyperextended).
).

Tibial plateau

Causes
How do collateral ligament injuries occur?
The collateral ligaments can be torn in sporting
activities, such as skiing or football. The
injury usually occurs when the...