Knee Ligament Sprain Treatment in Glendale, CA
Board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Ryan Morgan is dedicated to providing the best in orthopedic care for patients suffering from a knee ligament sprain in Glendale, CA. They will take the time to provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis to help determine the best treatment option for you. For more information, contact our office at 818-863-4446 and schedule an appointment today!
What are Ligaments?
Ligaments are like ropes, they connect bones together. There are four main ligaments that provide knee stability. They are the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL), and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL). The knee ligaments attach the thigh bone, femur, to the legbones, tibia and fibula. The cruciate ligaments are within the center of the knee and cross each other. The ACL attaches on the front of the tibia, the PCL on the back of the tibia. The ACL and PCL function to stabilize the knee with rotation and front to back movements. The collateral ligaments are located on the sides of the knee. They function to stabilize the knee with side-to-side movement.
What are the Different Types of Ligament Sprains?
Ligament sprains, like muscle strains, are graded by the severity of injury, grade 1 to 3. In grade 1 injuries, the ligament sustains microscopic tears. Grade 2, partial tearing of the ligament occurs. And in grade 3 there is complete tearing of the ligament.
MCL Injuries
In MCL injuries, the knee bends inward creating a valgus or ‘knock knee’ stretch across the ligament. This can happen during sports if someone hits your knee on the side with your leg planted. Pain will be on the medial, or inside, portion of the knee. MCL sprains typically heal well with non-operative treatment. A brace is used to protect the ligament as it heals, which can take 2-6 weeks depending on the severity of the injury.
LCL Injuries
For LCL injuries, the knee bends outward, creating a varus or ‘bow leg’ stretch across the ligament. This can happen if someone hits your knee on the inside portion of the knee. Pain will be on the lateral, or outside, portion of the knee. Again, most can be treated successfully non-operatively unless there is a grade 3 injury or combined with an ACL injury.
PCL Injuries
Isolated PCL sprains are rare and are due to dashboard injuries during a car accident or falling directly onto a bent knee. These are treated non-operatively in almost all cases.