LCL INJURY

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is the stabilizing ligament that runs along the outside of the knee joint. As with every knee injury, injury to the LCL is more likely in sports that involve lots of pivoting, rapid decelerating, and jumping. This includes soccer, hockey, skiing, football, or basketball. As a sports specific clinic, MOTUS regularly treats athletes that have experienced one or more types of knee ligament injuries.

An LCL injury ranges in severity from grade I (sprain), grade II (partially ruptured), and grade III (completely ruptured). This is the case for all four of the ligaments that support the knee joint. The system of ligaments work together, and so with an LCL injury we sometimes see additional damage to one or more of the other ligaments as well.

The LCL is meant to resist varus stress to the knee — that is, a force that pushes the knee out from the inside of the joint. Only 25% of emergency room patients with a knee injury are dealing with collateral ligament injuries, and of the two collateral ligaments an LCL is less commonly injured. Still, as you can imagine, sports like football and hockey pose plenty of opportunities for direct-force trauma to the inside of the knee. As such, it’s important for athletes to be aware of the possibility and work to develop training and rehabilitation that will protect the LCL and other ligaments in the knee.