Repairing Torn Lateral Collateral Ligaments

The lateral collateral ligament is a thin band of tissue along the outer side of the knee. It joins the thighbone (femur) to the fibula. (The fibula is the small bone of the lower leg that runs down the side of the knee to the ankle.) Like the medial collateral ligament, the lateral collateral ligament's main job is to keep the knee stable as it moves.



Symptoms of a Torn Lateral Collateral Ligament

Signs of a torn lateral collateral ligament include:

  • A feeling that the knee may give way and isn't stable
  • A locking or catching in the joint when moved
  • Numbness or weakness in the foot. This may occur if the nearby peroneal nerve is stretched during the injury or is pressed by swelling in around it
  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling and tenderness along the outside of the knee

Diagnosing a Torn Lateral Collateral Ligament


Your injury will be classified as follows:

  • Grade 2 ligament tear: Noticeable looseness in the knee (the knee opens up about five millimeters) when moved by hand. There is major pain and tenderness on the inner side of the knee as well as swelling. This means there have been larger tears in the ligament. The ligament is not torn in two, however.



Non-surgical Treatment of Lateral Collateral Ligament Tears

Lateral collateral ligament tears do not heal quite as well as medial collateral ligament tears do. Grade 3 lateral collateral ligament tears may require surgery.

In some cases, all that is required to complete the healing process is rest, wearing a brace, taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen and having physical therapy. Your doctor may recommend that you wear a lightweight cast or brace that allows your knee to move backward and forward but restricts side-to-side movement. This is usually worn 72 hours. Depending on how well it reduces your pain and swelling, you may be able to start a rehabilitative program in a few days.

When the pain and swelling have gone down, you should be able to start exercises to restore strength and normal range of motion to your knee. If you are still have soreness while doing these exercises, proceed slowly to prevent further irritation. It may take anywhere from one to eight weeks to fully recover, depending on the grade of your injury.

Surgical Treatment for Lateral Collateral Ligament Tears


If the tear happened in the middle of the ligament, the surgeon will sew the torn ends together.



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