Orthopedics Hip & Knee Knee Ligament Injuries Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Tear Treatment varies by the grade of the injury By Jonathan Cluett, MD Jonathan Cluett, MD LinkedIn Twitter Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 30, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Stuart Hershman, MD Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD LinkedIn Stuart Hershman, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. He is the director of adult spinal deformity & complex spinal reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print The lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, is one of the four major knee ligaments. The LCL connects the end of the thigh bone (the femur) to the top of the smaller shin bone (fibula), on the outside of the knee. The LCL helps to prevent excessive side-to-side movement of the knee joint. When the LCL is torn, the knee joint may bend too far inwards when stressed. PhotoAlto / Sandro Di Carlo Darsa / PhotoAlto Agency RF Collections / Getty Images People who injure their knee ligaments may develop sensations of instability of the knee joint. Instability is the symptom of the knee wanting to buckle or give-out. People who have instability of the knee joint may have abnormal sensations of the knee wanting to buckle, or it may suddenly buckle to the point that they fall to the ground. When the knee is unstable, it is often difficult to perform many activities, especially those that involve side-to-side movements, twisting, cutting, or pivoting. For this reason, often athletic activities like soccer and basketball can be difficult or impossible for people with LCL tears. Causes of Knee Ligament Injuries Severity The LCL is most commonly torn during sports activities or traumatic injuries (falls, etc.). The LCL is torn when the knee bends inwards excessively, and the LCL is stretched too far. LCL tears are graded similarly to other ligament tears on a scale of I to III: Grade I LCL tear: This is an incomplete tear of the LCL. The tendon is still in continuity, and the symptoms are usually minimal. Patients usually complain of pain with pressure on the LCL and may be able to return to their sport very quickly. Most athletes miss one to two weeks of play. Grade II LCL tear: Grade II injuries are also considered incomplete tears of the LCL. These patients may complain of instability when attempting to cut or pivot. The pain and swelling are more significant, and usually, a period of three to four weeks of rest is necessary. Grade III LCL tear: A grade III injury is a complete tear of the LCL. Patients have significant pain and swelling, and often have difficulty bending the knee. Instability, or giving out, is a common finding with grade III LCL tears. Grade III LCL tears commonly require surgical reconstruction. Grade III LCL tears commonly occur alongside other injuries to the knee, most especially tears and sprains of the cruciate ligaments that connect the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). How Knee Ligament Injuries Are Diagnosed Treatment Treatment of Grade I and II LCL tears can usually be accomplished with simple steps that allow the ligament to rest and repair itself. The early steps should be aimed at preventing inflammation and allowing the ligament to rest. Helpful treatments include: Rest: Patients may do best using crutches to allow the knee to rest. Activities including sports should be avoided until the ligament is healed. A brace can help to support the knee to prevent stress on the healing LCL. Anti-inflammatory drugs: Anti-inflammatory medications can help to control swelling and prevent inflammation. These medications should be discussed with your healthcare provider as there are possible side-effects. Ice application: Applying an ice pack to the area can help control swelling and pain. Knee exercises: Once the acute inflammation has settled down, some basic knee exercise can help to restore mobility to the joint and prevent loss of strength. Return to sports should not be considered until mobility and strength have been restored to normal. Severe injuries may require surgery. Surgery is typically considered if the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is torn or there are other types of severe damage to the knee. Recent studies have shown that patients who undergo surgical treatment tend to do best with the reconstruction of the ligament with other tissue (a.k.a. a tissue graft) rather than repair of the damaged ligament. Surgery When the lateral collateral ligament is completely torn, a surgical procedure is typically recommended to either repair or reconstruct the ligament. When the ligament is torn at the location of the attachment to the bone, a surgical repair may be possible. If the ligament is torn along the center of the ligament, a reconstruction procedure is typically needed. During this procedure, tissue from elsewhere in the body (or from a donor) is used to create a new lateral collateral ligament. In certain cases, the partial rupture of the LCL may be enough to warrant surgery, particularly in athletes. Within this context, those who undergo LCL repair tend to have better knee stability than those who opt for nonsurgical treatment. Rehab Protocol After Knee Ligament Surgery A Word From Verywell The lateral collateral ligament is one of the four major ligaments to provide stability to the knee joint. Injuries to the lateral collateral ligament are relatively uncommon compared to injuries to the other major knee ligaments. However, when the LCL is injured, people may have pain, swelling, and instability of the knee joint. Partial tears of the lateral collateral ligament will typically heal with nonsurgical treatment, whereas complete tears of the ligament often require a surgical repair. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Grawe B, Schroeder AJ, Kakazu R, Messer MS. Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury About the Knee: Anatomy, Evaluation, and Management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2018;26(6):e120-e127. doi:10.5435/jaaos-d-16-00028 Cerulli G, Placella G, Sebastiani E, Tei MM, Speziali A, Manfreda F. ACL Reconstruction: Choosing the Graft. Joints. 2013;1(1):18-24. Moatshe G, Dean CS, Chahla J, Serra Cruz R, LaPrade RF. Anatomic Fibular Collateral Ligament Reconstruction. Arthrosc Tech. 2016;5(2):e309-e314. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.01.007 Additional Reading Levy BA, et al. "Repair versus reconstruction of the fibular collateral ligament and posterolateral corner in the multiligament-injured knee" Am J Sports Med. 2010 Apr;38(4):804-9. Epub 2010 Jan 31. Schorfhaar AJ, Mair JJ, Fetzer GB, Wolters BW, LaPrade RF. Knee: Lateral and postereolateral injuries of the knee. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr., Miller MD, eds. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2009:chap 23;sect F.