Knee Ligament Injuries
A 22-year-old football player is tackled from the lateral side with a direct blow to the outer knee while his foot is planted. He immediately feels pain on the inner aspect of his knee. Examination reveals tenderness along the medial joint line and medial femoral condyle, with increased medial joint opening to valgus stress at 30 degrees of flexion but a firm endpoint. The knee is stable to valgus stress in full extension. Regarding medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
The MCL is the primary restraint to valgus stress at the knee; it consists of superficial and deep c...
MCL injuries are graded by the degree of medial opening on valgus stress testing at 30 degrees flexi...
MCL injuries are tested in full extension only; the MCL inserts on the lateral femur; isolated MCL i...
Treatment of isolated MCL injuries is typically non-operative, even for Grade III injuries; the liga...
Combined MCL and ACL injuries require careful treatment planning; current evidence supports non-oper...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option