Indications for Surgery
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprains are partial or complete tears of one of the four major ligaments of the knee. The MCL is a structure that helps keep the normal relationship of the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (leg bone) along the inner (medial) side of the knee. The MCL prevents the knee from buckling inward and is the ligament most commonly injured in sports. Sometimes, the MCL is completely torn and this results in instability and pain. In some cases when the MCL is unlikely to heal with conservative treatment, MCL repair or reconstruction is indicated.
MRI images of normal (left) and injured (right) MCL. Note the bright fluid that indicates swelling and injury