June 3rd, 2014
Have you had Lateral Collateral Ligament Injury Philadelphia Resident?
Did you know that most injuries to the knee do not occur to the bones of the joint? It is actually the ligaments that attach those bones that are most susceptible to injury. You may think of ligaments as thick rubber bands that provide stability and range of motion by connecting the bones to one another. In the knee, the fibula (lower leg bone) is attached to the femur (bone in the thigh) by the lateral collateral ligament, or the LCL. For lateral collateral ligament injury Philadelphia patients turn to the experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.
The LCL runs along the outside of the knee and provides support to the joint, keeping it from slipping too far sideways in either direction. However, when forceful twisting or impacting collisions strain this ligament too far, it can strain, sprain or tear. And because of the usual circumstances of the impact, this common knee ligament injury is often accompanied by other, related injuries as well.
If you play a high contact sport like hockey or football, you are more susceptible to the kind of lateral collateral ligament injury Philadelphia patients often complain of. Or, those who participate in activities that require twisting motions or quick change in direction (sports such as basketball, skiing and soccer) are also likely candidates for LCL tears. If you believe you may have sustained an injury to this ligament of the knee, make an appointment at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute to be seen by an orthopedic specialist.
Your physician will perform a physical exam of the knee, ask you questions and may also order an MRI. If your LCL is indeed torn, the tear will be given a grade of severity and then possible treatment options will be discussed. In some cases, the issue may be resolved through non-operative measures, such as simply resting and wearing a brace. However, most higher grades of LCL tears do require surgical repair. For the kind of treatment that lateral collateral injury Philadelphia patients want, call Rothman Orthopaedic Institute today at 1-800-321-9999.