This article will provide you with a general overview of the Medical Collateral Ligament (MCL). We will talk about how this injury can occur, and what will be the most likely treatment option. First and foremost, the MCL is the ligament that is located in the knee. There are two lateral ligaments that can be found in your knee. The MCL runs on the inside of your knee, while the lateral ligament runs on the outside of your knee.

What is the purpose of the MCL?

The purpose of these two ligaments that we mentioned above (MCL and LCL) is to keep the knee sturdy and straight. The MCL is specifically there to keep your knee from buckling inwards. The idea is that if a force is applied to the knee in the direction of the MCL, the knee will refrain from buckling towards the inside. However, if you apply a significant force in the direction of the MCL, it can put an incredible amount of stress to the MCL ligament, causing an injury. Most of the time, a significant force occurs in a car accident.

What kind of MCL injuries can occur?

You can get a partial tear in the middle of the MCL, or you can get a tear that pops the ligament off at the top or bottom of the ligament (this is where the ligament connects with the bone). In some cases, it can tear off a piece of bone with it.

Due to the importance of the MCL ligament, you will most likely need surgery to repair the injury. It is a painful injury that requires months of healing before you can get yourself back to doing the physical activities that you once loved. If you decide against surgery, you will need to wear a brace during most activities to prevent further damage to the knee.

If you have an MCL tear, or any other type of injury due to a fall or an accident, contact us today at Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Accident Injury Attorneys for a free case evaluation. You can also reach us directly at: 1-800-285-8678. Our team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve!