Knee Collateral Ligament Injury

Last updated 20.05.13

Index

Definition

- Injury to the medial &/or collateral ligaments of the knee joint

Features

- Lateral collateral ligament injuries rare

- Often associated with ACL &/or PCL injury

Cause

- Medial collateral ligament: valgus strain in flexed knee

- Lateral collateral ligament: varus strain in flexed knee

Associated S/S

- Pain

- Antalgic gait, limp

- Worse on movements changing direction

- +/- Instability on changing directions

- Knee examination

- Swelling, erythema, warmth

- Bruising

- Assess integrity of collaterals

- Flexion of knee at 30o

- Apply varus & valgus strain

- Full extension then repeat varus & vulgas strains

DDx

-

Grades

- Predicts speed of recovery

- I: pain without laxity, <3mm gapping

- II: more painful, 5-10mm laxity

- III: less painful, >10mm laxity

Ix

-

Mx

- Analgesia

- RICE

- Conservative Mx

- Splinting

- High hinged knee brace preventing varus & vulgus strains

- Physiotherapy

- 6-12weeks rehabilitation

- Referral for lateral collateral ligament injuries

- Often associated with ACL &/or PCL injury

References