The collateral ligaments -- medial (MCL) and lateral (LCL) -- are found on the sides of your knee. Injuries to the collateral ligaments are usually caused by a force that pushes the knee sideways. These are often contact injuries, but not always.

Dec 19, 2023 · Damage to your medial collateral ligament (MCL) is called an MCL tear. A tear can be either partial or complete. When some fibers in the ligament are torn, it is a partial tear. When...

A lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear is a knee injury that causes pain, swelling and bruising. Your LCL is a band of tissue located on the outside of your knee (the side that faces away from your body).

Oct 18, 2021 · An MCL tear is one of the most common knee injuries. It's damage to the ligament on the inner side of your knee. Surgery is usually not needed to treat it.

Aug 11, 2021 · Injuries to the LCL, such as sprains and tears, can cause symptoms such as weakness in the knee, pain, and swelling. Injuries are typically more common in athletes who...

Jan 13, 2025 · Both an ACL tear and an MCL tear can happen suddenly, be associated with a popping sensation, be painful, and have swelling. An MCL injury will cause pain in the medial aspect (inside) of the knee. There may also be a clear point of maximal tenderness (the highest level of pain while pressing on the leg).

Aug 12, 2022 · An LCL injury (a torn LCL or a LCL tear) is a strain or tear to the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The LCL is a band of tissue that runs along the outer side of your knee .

A collateral ligament injury occurs when the ligaments are stretched or torn. A partial tear occurs when only part of the ligament is torn. A complete tear occurs when the entire ligament is torn into two pieces. The collateral ligaments help keep your knee stable.

An injury to the lateral collateral ligament of the knee can be caused by a varus stress or hyperextension to the knee joint. Additional damage to the ACL, PCL, posterio-lateral corner and lateral knee structures is possible with an LCL injury.

Feb 1, 2025 · Lateral collateral ligament injuries can range from a minor sprain, over a partial tear to complete disruption. They can be located at mid-substance or the femoral and fibular insertion sites 2-4. Mechanism. Isolated lateral collateral ligament injury is usually due to a lower velocity injury mechanism and the following 2,3: