Treatment for a Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury in Clifton

Get the Answers You Need to Treat Your LCL Injury in Clifton

Have you or a loved one recently suffered a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury? Are you searching for options for treating a lateral collateral ligament injury in Clifton? With services, answers, and the most compassionate care, Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is happy to provide the help you need. Finding treatment for a lateral collateral ligament injury in Clifton is easy when you visit the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute offices near you. With a number of conveniently located offices in and around the North Jersey area, the proper care for your LCL injury is at your fingertips.

LCL injuries are most often a result of a sudden force acting sideways on the knee joint. The knee does not easily flex from side to side, making such movement problematic and dangerous. LCL injuries are frequently contact injuries, though not always.

What Is the Lateral Collateral Ligament?

There are four major ligaments in the knee joint: two cruciate ligaments and two collateral ligaments. The cruciate ligaments are within the knee joint, and control the back and forth motion of the knee. The collateral ligaments are located on either side of the joint, known as the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). The MCL connects the femur to the tibia, and the LCL connects the femur to the fibula. Altogether, the collateral ligaments control the sideways movement of the knee joint.

What does a Lateral Collateral Injury Look Like?

The knee is one of the most commonly injured joints in the human body, especially amongst athletes. Any significant direct contact with the knee, or sudden trauma such as quick changes in direction, can cause a ligament injury.

Since an LCL injury involves injury directly to a ligament, it is classified as a sprain, and is graded on a scale of severity likewise:

Grade One Sprains - Ligament is stretched slightly but is still able to provide stability.

Grade Two Sprains - The ligament is stretched to the point of loosening, known as a partial tear of the ligament.

Grade Three Sprains - The ligament is completely torn into two pieces, the knee joint is unstable, and injury is referred to as a complete tear of the ligament.

In the case of an LCL injury, there will be noticeable pain in the sides of the joint, especially on the outside of the knee. The knee will likely swell around the injured area, and lose much of its stability, causing the patient to feel like the knee is giving way.

What Does Treatment for a Lateral Collateral Injury in Clifton Include?

LCL injuries are less common than MCL injuries, however, due to the complex anatomy of the knee, an LCL injury usually occurs in conjunction with other injuries in the knee.

During an evaluation, your Rothman Orthopaedic Institute physician will be able to properly diagnose your LCL injury, and recommend the proper non-operative course of action. For less severe sprains, surgery will likely not be necessary, and you will be able to treat the injury with a number of simple methods:

Ice: Apply crushed ice to the injured joint for 15 to 20-minute intervals, with one hour in between applications.

Brace: If necessary, your Rothman Orthopaedic Institute physician may recommend you rely on an LCL knee brace in order to keep the injured ligament from suffering further stress. Similarly, crutches may also be recommended if necessary.

Physical Therapy: In time, your knee will return to normal use, and physical therapy can help to speed up that process. Lateral collateral ligament injury recovery time depends on the individual patient, but with physical therapy, patients may be able to more steadily return to their normal activities.

In the case of more severe injuries, such as a complete tear, your Rothman Orthopaedic Institute physician may recommend surgery to repair the torn ligament.

For more information on finding treatment for a lateral collateral ligament injury in Clifton, or to arrange for an appointment, contact Rothman Orthopaedic Institute today at 1-800-321-9999, or visit us online today.