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Ency. home > Injury > L > Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury

Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

LCL injury; Knee injury - lateral collateral ligament (LCL)

Definition:

LCL injury is a stretch, partial tear, or complete tear of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the knee.

Considerations

A physical examination with a lateral collateral ligament test (varus stress at 25 degrees of flexion) results in unchanged knee joint tightness. This involves bending the knee to 25 degrees and placing pressure on the inside surface of the knee.

Other tests may include:

Causes

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is a ligament extending from the top-outside surface of the fibula to the bottom-outside surface of the femur. The ligament prevents the knee joint from lateral instability, that is, instability on the outside of the joint.

The LCL is usually injured by pressure placed on the knee-joint from the inside or medial pressure, resulting in stress on the outside of the joint (varus stress).

Ency. home > Injury > L > Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury

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