The LCL helps to prevent excessive side-to-side movement of theknee joint.

When the LCL is torn, the knee joint may bend too far inwards when stressed.

People who injure their knee ligaments may develop sensations of instability of the knee joint.

A man holding his knee in pain

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Instability is the symptom of the knee wanting to buckle or give-out.

The LCL is torn when the knee bends inwards excessively, and the LCL is stretched too far.

The early steps should be aimed at preventing inflammation and allowing theligamentto rest.

Helpful treatments include:

Severe injuries may require surgery.

atissue graft) rather than repair of the damaged ligament.

If the ligament is torn along the center of the ligament, a reconstruction procedure is typically needed.

Injuries to the lateral collateral ligament are relatively uncommon compared to injuries to the other major knee ligaments.

2013;1(1):18-24.

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