Your Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury Specialist in Bartlett, IL
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury
A Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) injury involves the tearing or stretching of the ligament located on the outer side of your knee. This ligament plays a crucial role in stabilizing the knee joint, particularly against forces that push the knee outward. An LCL injury often results from a direct blow to the inside of the knee, causing it to buckle outwards, or from sudden twists and turns. This can lead to pain, swelling on the outside of the knee, and a feeling of instability, as if your knee might give way.
At Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, our team of board-certified, fellowship-trained knee specialists can accurately diagnose your condition and create a personalized treatment plan to provide the relief you deserve from your LCL injury:
If you're suffering from a knee injury that could be an LCL tear, our specialists can provide the expert care you need. Don't wait to address your knee pain. Book an appointment with a Barrington Orthopedic Specialists physician. For urgent needs, visit our Immediate Care Clinic in Schaumburg, IL.
Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury: Diagnosis & Treatment
Dealing with an LCL tear? Understanding the condition and your treatment options is the first step toward recovery. At Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, our board-certified sports medicine team is here to create a plan that gets you back to your life.
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is located on the outside of your knee, connecting your thighbone (femur) to your smaller lower-leg bone (fibula). An LCL tear is an injury to this ligament, often caused by a direct blow to the inside of the knee or sudden twisting movements. This can stretch or tear the ligament, leading to instability and pain. Common symptoms include pain and swelling on the outer side of the knee, a feeling of the knee "giving way," and stiffness.
To accurately diagnose your condition, our specialists will perform a physical examination, take X-rays, and discuss your symptoms and how the injury occurred. In some cases, we may order additional imaging, such as an MRI, to assess the extent of the ligament damage and rule out other related injuries, such as fractures.
Once we have a clear diagnosis, we'll create a personalized treatment plan to reduce pain, restore stability, and help the ligament heal.
Orthopedic Knee Specialists at BOS
Meet the sports medicine and knee specialists who diagnose and treat LCL injuries and other knee ligament tears for patients across the Barrington Orthopedic Specialists network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury?+
A Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) injury is typically caused by a direct blow or force to the inside of the knee. This pressure from the inside pushes the knee outward, stretching or tearing the LCL on the outside of the knee.
Common causes include:
- Contact sports: Tackles in sports like football or rugby that hit the inside of the knee.
- Sudden changes in direction: Quickly stopping, pivoting, or twisting, which can put stress on the outside of the knee.
- Awkward landings: Landing incorrectly from a jump, causing the knee to buckle outwards.
- Accidents: A direct impact to the inner knee during a fall or a car accident.
What Are the Symptoms of Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury?+
Symptoms of a tear in the lateral collateral ligament are:
- Knee swelling
- Locking or catching of the knee with movement
- Pain or tenderness along the outside of the knee
- Knee gives way, or feels like it is going to give way, when it is active or stressed in a certain way
What Are The Nonsurgical Treatment Options For LCL Injuries?+
The conservative, nonsurgical treatments for LCL tears usually begin with the following:
- Ice: Icing your injury is important in the healing process.
- Bracing: Your knee must be protected from the same sideways force that caused the injury. You may need to change your daily activities to avoid risky movements. Your doctor may recommend a brace to protect the injured ligament from stress. To further protect your knee, you may be given crutches for support and stability.
- Physical therapy: Specific exercises to restore function to your knee and strengthen the leg muscles that support it.
What Are The Surgical Treatment Options For LCL Injuries?+
If a collateral ligament tear is severe, meaning it has detached completely from the bone or is torn in a manner that prevents it from healing naturally, surgical intervention may be necessary. This is especially true if the injury occurs alongside other significant ligament damage, such as a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), as this can lead to greater joint instability. In these cases, your doctor may recommend surgery to restore the knee's stability and function.