The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is located on the side part of your knee. The MCL is placed outside of the joint and helps to hold bones while providing strength and stability to the joint. Injury can be caused to MCL by tear or strength. Normally, this occurs from something directly hitting the MCL. Players often experience this type of injury because of the impact their bodies experience regularly. There are situations of minor MCL injuries that can recover with time and therapy. There are other times when the MCL must be surgically repaired to function properly again.
Here are the types of MCL injuries-
There are three types of MCL injuries- A1, A2 and A3
o A grade 1 MCL injury is the least severe. It means that your ligament has been strained but not torn.
o A grade 2 MCL injury means that your ligament has been partially torn. This usually causes weakness in your knee joint.
o A grade 3 MCL injury is the most severe type of ligament injury. It occurs when your ligament has been completely torn. Joint instability is common in a grade 3 MCL sprain.
Diagnosis
Depending on the severity of the damage, an MCL issue can often be diagnosed by a physical examination. A doctor will bend the knee and put pressure on the outside of the area to feel if the inner knee area is loose. If the area doesn’t feel as tight as it should be, then there must be MCL injury. If the presence of an injury isn’t promptly diagnosed, then there may be a need for further examination. This can include an X-ray or an MRI.
X-Ray: It is used to view the bones in the knee.
MRI– It will provide images of the knee and the ligaments inside.
Check out the symptoms of an MCL injury?
The symptoms of an MCL injury are like symptoms of other knee problems. Your doctor needs to examine your knee to determine the problem.
The symptoms of an MCL injury may include:
o a popping sound upon injury
o pain and tenderness along the inner part of your knee
o swelling of the knee joint
o a feeling that your knee is going to give out when you put weight on it
o locking or catching in the knee joint
o Problems with knee stability typically indicate grade 2 or grade 3 injuries.
Encapsulated below are the RICE method advised by the health professionals.
Most everyone who has an MCL injury will be advised by a health care professional to follow the RICE method:
Rest. Activities that irritate the knee, such as pivoting and walking for long periods, should be avoided until the symptoms get better.
Ice. A person may be advised to apply ice packs to the knee to help reduce swelling and decrease pain.
Compression. Wearing a tight, elastic bandage around the knee can help stop swelling.
Elevation. Keeping the knee propped up above the waist can help decrease swelling.
If you are facing any problem related to MCL you can visit the best MCL surgery center in Noida. Global Orthopaedics & Sports Injury Centre is having Best Orthopedic Surgeon in Noida.
