Did I Tear My MCL?
If you've recently sustained a knee injury and are experiencing pain on the inner side of your knee joint, you may be wondering if you tore your medial collateral ligament (MCL).
Whether from a fall while skiing, a twist of the knee playing soccer, or a hard hit during ice hockey, MCL tears are a common injury among athletes.
In most cases, MCL tears can be treated without the need for surgery. However, they all require proper care to heal fully and avoid damage to other structures of the knee.
How Do MCL Tears Occur?
The MCL is a band of tissue that runs along the inside of your knee, connecting the shinbone to the thigh bone. It helps stabilize the knee joint and prevents your knee from bending too far inward.
The MCL can be stretched or torn when a force pushes the knee joint beyond its normal range of motion. Common causes include:
A direct blow to the outside of the knee, like from a tackle in football
Hyperextension of the knee (read more about how this commonly occurs in skiers)
Landing awkwardly from a jump
Sudden twisting of the knee during cutting or pivoting maneuvers, like in soccer
What Does a Torn MCL Feel Like?
Symptoms are often felt on the inner side of the injured knee and will vary depending on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn, or in severe cases, completely torn. These include:
Immediate pain
Tenderness
Bruising
Feeling like the knee may give out
Difficulty walking or bearing weight
A popping sound when the injury occurs
What Is the Treatment for an MCL Tear?
The good news is that the MCL has an excellent blood supply, which means that the ligament can often heal on its own and without the need for surgery.
At Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery, Dr. Sterett will start by reviewing your medical history, symptoms, and how the injury occurred. He will then examine your knee for signs of tenderness, swelling, and instability. Imaging tests may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and the severity of the tear, which is graded on a 1 to 3 scale.
Grade 1: Mild injury where the MCL is stretched but not torn.
Grade 2: Moderate injury where the MCL is partially torn.
Grade 3: Severe injury where the MCL is completely torn.
Once a diagnosis is confirmed, Dr. Sterett and his team will work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan unique to your needs, recommending conservative measures whenever possible. Treatments methods may include:
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)
Anti-inflammatory medication
Restricted weight-bearing
Knee brace
Physical therapy
Biologics such as stem cells or PRP have been used to promote a more rapid or robust healing of a complete MCL tear. Make sure you ask about this option!
While recovery times vary widely depending on the injury's severity, grade 1 and 2 tears generally take two to four weeks to heal, while grade 3 tears can take up to eight weeks or longer.
Surgery is usually only recommended in cases where:
There is a complete tear of the MCL off of the tibia. MCL tears off the femur (these account for over 90% of tears) typically do not need surgery.
There is damage to other ligaments.
The tear isn't sufficiently healing after conservative therapy.
Contact Dr. Sterett for Expert Treatment of MCL Injuries
If you're experiencing knee pain and think you might have injured your MCL, contact Dr. Sterett and his team at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery today.
Whether your goal is to get back to professional sports or return to your favorite mountain activities, Team Sterett will develop an individualized treatment plan that helps you achieve your goals.
Call (970) 476-7220 to schedule an appointment today at convenient locations in Edwards or Vail, Colorado. You can also request an appointment online.
