1. John Hardin, MA, ATC, LAT CSCS
MCL Injuries
John Hardin, MA, ATC, LAT CSCS

2. The Latest and Greatest

3. Evidence Based

4. Case
17 y/o male tackled at his left knee from the outside while playing intramural football.
Knee buckled inward.
Felt a pop in his knee, limped off the playing field.

5. Case PE Stiff Knee Gait Mild Effusion No Joint Line TTP
+TTP over femoral insertion of the MCL
Negative Lachman, Negative Anterior and Posterior Drawer.
Negative McMurrays
Varus and Valgus stable in extension.
Moderate laxity in 30 degrees of flexion with valgus stress with firm endpoint.

6. Case
XR: Negative

7. Case
Diagnosis?
Present a straight forward case b/c this is a common injury, and this is the common presentation.

8. Case
Grade II MCL Tear

9. Case Treatment Conservative Treatment. Outcome Crutches
Anti-inflammatories
ROM Brace
Rehab
Outcome
RTP in 4 weeks, weaned as tolerated from brace.

10. Anatomy Layer I Layer II Layer III Deep fascia, Sartorius
Superficial MCL
Layer III
Deep MCL
Posteromedial Capsule
Numbers on diagram are wrong. I and II blend anteriorly, II and III blend posteriorly.

11. Medial Knee Anatomy
Sargeant

12. MCL Function Primary stabilizer to valgus force.
Secondary stabilizer to Anterior translation.
Resist external rotation.
MCL and ACL have a codependent relationship.
What is another structure that is a secondary stabilizer to anterior translation? Posterior Horn of the medial meniscus.

13. Diagnosis
History
Classic Mechanism: Isolated Valgus moment to knee. PE
Complete Knee Exam
Examine MCL with the knee both in full extension and at 30 degrees of flexion.
Valgus Stress with knee at 30 degrees of flexion causes pain or instability of medial knee.
Exam at 30 isolation the MCL. Use valgus stress, and not internal of external rotation thru the leg. At 30 degrees this releaxes the posterior capsule and allows for the isolation of the MCL

14. MCL Injury Model

15. MCL Grading System
I - Stretching of fibers. Localized TTP. No instability.
II - Disruption of Fibers. Mild to moderate instability.
III - Complete disruption of ligament. Gross instability.
III - May not have pain with stress.

16. Imaging XR MRI May demonstrate avulsions. Confirms Diagnosis
Evals other ligaments, cartilage.

17. Treatment
The injured MCL heals predictably without repair regardless of its grade.
Non-op management of all MCL tears is considered standard practice.

18. Treatment of Isolated MCL Injury
Grade I and II Injuries
Non-Surgical Treatment
Crutches until symptoms improve, WBAT, ROM.
Edema Control - Ice, Compression, Massage.
NSAIDS
Hinged knee brace
Speeding Recovery
Good control of swelling can decrease the amount of time for full recovery of motion and strength.
Can protect knee with brace to dampen the valgus stress of the medial structures to allow healing. May rquire brace initially when participating in cutting athletic activities and then can be weaned from the brace as tolerated.

19. Treatment of Isolated MCL Injury
Grade III MCL
Non-Surgical Rehab
Brief period of immobilization
Start ROM when initial swelling subsides.
May need a longer period of protected weight bearing.
Persistant valgus instability
May consider for early surgical reconstruction.
Period of immobilization to control swelling

20. ACL + MCL Usually do not require MCL reconstruction
Rehab the medial side and achieve full ROM then do ACL reconstruction.
However, if valgus instability persists after rehab then reconstruction of ACL and MCL should be considered.
Early reconstruction of both the acl and mcl may lead to motion loss

21. PCL + MCL
If significant posterior subluxation is present following injury, both ligaments should be reconstructed acutely.
If the Joint is well reduced, can treat MCL nonsurgically with bracing. PCL can be reconstructed when full ROM is achieved and valgus stability is restored.
If valgus instability persists, reconstruct PCL and MCL.

22. Chronic MCL Injury
Chronic injury results when the MCL complex loses its potential for spontaneous healing.
Usually occurs 3 to 4 months following the initial injury.
Can develop secondary ligamentous instabilities or secondary limb malalignment.

23. Chronic MCL Injury Valgus deformity of limb secondary to chronic MCL
Osteotomy may be required at time of MCL reconstruction.
Surgical Options
POL Advancement
Proximal Capsular Advancement
Distal Capsular Advancement
Semimembranosis advancement
Allograft

24. Child with Medial Knee Injury
Don’t forget to rule out physeal injury!

25. Prevention Prophylactic and Functional Bracing for MCL Protection
Controversial
Some studies indicate is may be protective in football. May slow down speed. As of today, no definitive recommendations can be made.

26. Latest Research
Animal Studies suggest that Anti-Inflammatory medications do not impede ligament healing in early and intermediate healing phases
Sports Med. 1999; 27; 738. Claude T. Moorman, III, Udita Kukreti, David C. Fenton and Stephen M. Belkoff. The Early Effect of Ibuprofen on the Mechanical Properties of Healing Medial Collateral Ligament

27. ACL + MCL
Operative and Nonoperative Treatments of Medial Collateral Ligament Rupture Were Not Different in Combined Medial Collateral and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture.
ACL + Grade 3 MCL
Surgery at days after injury.
No difference in results at 2 years.
Review
Surgery took place before MCL healing.
Low Demand Patients
Treated with continuous hinged knee brace
Conclusion: Patients with combined ACL + MCL injuries who undergo early surgery after injury may do well without surgical treatment of the MCL, but they should be treated in a hinged knee brace. Caution should be used in a different patient population such as high demand athletes.
Halinen J, Lindahl J, Hirvensalo E, Santavirta S. Operative and Nonoperative Treatments of Medial Collateral Ligament Rupture with Early Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Randomized Study. Am J Sports Med Jul;34:

28. Questions?