MCL Surgery Options

      (Find more information about MCL tears, ruptures and surgery recovery, and cost.)

      The medial collateral ligament, MCL, is one of four major ligaments in the knee.  It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament. A MCL knee injury can be very painful.  The most common cause of MLC injury is if a knee bends the wrong way when landing.  A MCL tear is common in American football.  Mostly centers or guards are the players who suffer this injury because of the grip trend on their cleats. 

Medical Collateral Ligament surgery is rarely needed.  Most of the time, simple treatment along with rehabilitation is all that is needed for a patient to resume their previous level of activity. 
Treatment for a partial MCL, grade I, tear includes bracing and inflammation control and can take 1-2 weeks before you are able to return to normal activity. 

For a grade II injury, a hinged knee brace is usually used and you can return to normal activity if you are not having pain.  This is often within 3-4 weels. 

With a grade III injury, a knee immobilizer and crutches are used for the frist 7-10 days.  The brace should be taken off a few times a day and the knee should be bent.  After that time, a hinged knee brace is worn and more range of motion is allowed as long as there is no pain.  Once the knee can be bent 100 degrees, they can ride a stationary bike.  Crutches can be discontinued if they can walk without limping.  Jogging can begin when 60% of their strength is regained, and agility drill when 80% is.  Complete rehab can take 3-4 months.

A grade IV injury is injury to more ligaments than the MCL.  This is called a medical column injury.  This can require surgery, but is controversial.  Some doctors let it heal without surgery, and some repair them with surgery.   For higher grade tears of the MCL, it can be replaced or sutured.   Non-surgical options may include prolotherapy, bioengineering, or some commercial injections that are just now becoming available.