Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) helps connect the thigh bone to the smaller shin bone on the outside of the knee. LCL injuries often occur with knee injuries.
What Is a Lateral Collateral Ligament Sprain?
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is one of the 4 major ligaments of the knee. The LCL helps connect the thigh bone (femur) to the smaller shin bone (fibula) on the outside of the knee. The LCL stops the knee from buckling outward. An injury to the LCL alone is not common and often occurs with knee injuries. Sprains are classified into 3 grades:
- Grade 1 is when the ligament is stretched but not torn but is painful.
- Grade 2 is when the ligament is partially torn but still works.
- Grade 3 is when the ligament is torn and does not work.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, tenderness and swelling on the outside of the knee.
- Limping or walking with the knee bent.
- A feeling of popping, tearing, or pulling at the time of injury.
- Feeling like the knee buckles.
Increased Risk
- Sports that require pivoting, cutting, or changing direction (soccer, lacrosse).
- Contact sports (football, rugby).
- Poor physical conditioning (strength and flexibility).
Treatment
- Medicine
- Anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®), may be recommended. Take these as directed by your health care provider and do not take for the first 3 days after injury.
- Other minor pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), may be taken.
- Use of cold and heat
- Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and after any activity that makes symptoms worse. Use ice packs or an ice massage.
- Heat should not be used on a new injury but may be used before stretching and strengthening activities prescribed by your doctor, health care provider, or athletic trainer. Use a heat pack or warm soak.
- Orthopedic aids
- An elastic bandage can be used to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
- Crutches may be used for more severe injuries.
- A knee brace with a hinge may be prescribed to protect the joint and decrease pain.
- Rehab
- Rehab with a physical therapist or athletic trainer may be prescribed to improve flexibility, strength, and range of motion.
- Surgery
- Surgery may be needed for severe injuries or when more knee ligaments are damaged.
How to Prevent
- Do correct warm-up and stretch before practice or competition.
- Wear proper protective equipment (correct length of cleats for surface).
- Maintain proper conditioning, knee and thigh flexibility, muscle strength and endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.
When to Call the Doctor
Call your doctor, health care provider, or the Sports Medicine team at (614) 355-6000 if:
- Symptoms get worse or do not improve in 4 to 6 weeks, despite treatment.
- New, unexplained symptoms develop.
Helping Hands Patient Education Materials
Written and illustrated by medical, nursing and allied health professionals at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Helping Hand instructions are intended as a supplement to verbal instructions provided by a medical professional. The information is periodically reviewed and revised to reflect our current practice. However, Nationwide Children's Hospital is not responsible for any consequences resulting from the use or misuse of the information in the Helping Hands.
HH-I-609 ©2022, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
