The Knee joint is the largest joint in the body. It has 4 main ligaments that help to stabilise the joint in-order for you to lead an active lifestyle. The 4 ligaments are split into two groups, the cruciate ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament) that are on the inside of your knee, and the collateral ligaments (medial and lateral) that connect the femur and tibia on the outside of your knee.
Dr Balendra is a Knee Ligament specialist and treats knee injuries in both adults and children. Unfortunately, sporting injury or trauma from falls or accidents can lead to injury of one or more of the knee ligaments:
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury: ACL is the most commonly injured knee ligament, typically caused by sudden twisting or pivoting movements during sporting activities such as football, netball or skiing. Click here to read more about ACL injuries.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury: PCL injury is less common than ACL injury and is usually caused by a direct blow to the front of the knee. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. Click here to read more about PCL injuries.
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury: MCL injury is typically caused by a direct blow to the outer side of the knee, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness. The MCL is a large ligament that is very important to the stability of the knee, but thankfully it does have great healing potential.
Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injury: LCL injury is less common than MCL injury and is usually caused by a direct blow to the inner side of the knee, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness.
Multi-ligament knee injury: A multi-ligament knee injury occurs when two or more of the four major ligaments of the knee (ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL) are damaged or torn. This type of injury is usually caused by a high-impact trauma, such as a sports injury or a motor vehicle accident. Multi-ligament knee injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling, instability, and the inability to bear weight on the affected leg.
Dr Balendra is a Knee Ligament specialist and treats knee injuries in both adults and children. He will discuss with you in detail about the nature of your knee ligament injury and formulate a treatment plan to get you back on your feet. The exact treatment plan will depend on the severity and location of the injury, but the immediate management of all knee injuries typically involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), bracing and the use of crutches.
Contact us now for an urgent appointment for your knee ligament condition.
