Knee Ligament Injuries

4 July 2025

Overview

Your knee relies on four key ligaments — the anterior cruciate (ACL), posterior cruciate (PCL), medial collateral (MCL) and lateral collateral (LCL) — to provide stability and smooth, pain-free movement. A sprain or tear to any of these structures can cause instability, swelling and significant pain, limiting everyday activities and sport. Early, specialist assessment helps prevent long-term damage and speeds up recovery.

The Main Knee Ligaments & Typical Injury Patterns

Ligament

ACL

Location

Centre/Front

Common Cause

Sudden stop, pivot or awkward landing

Typical Symptoms

“Pop” sound, rapid swelling, knee giving way

Ligament	PCL
Location	Centre/Back
Common Cause	Direct blow to the shin, dashboard injury, hyper-flexion
Typical Symptoms	Deep knee pain, swelling, difficulty descending stairs

Ligament	MCL
Location	Inner Side
Common Cause	Blow to the outside of the knee, twisting while foot is planted
Typical Symptoms	Inner-knee pain, bruising, stiffness

Ligament	LCL
Location	Outer Side
Common Cause	Force to the inside of the knee, hyper-extension
Typical Symptoms	Outer-knee pain, instability on uneven ground

Causes & Risk Factors

High-impact sports: Football, rugby, skiing, basketball.
Sudden directional changes: Cutting/pivoting movements.
Improper landing mechanics: Jump landings without knee control.
Previous ligament injury: Increases re-injury risk.
Muscle weakness or imbalance: Quadriceps/hamstring disproportion.

Key Symptoms

Immediate or delayed knee swelling.
Sharp pain or deep ache around the joint line.
Instability or “giving way”.
Restricted range of motion or locking.
Audible “pop” at the moment of injury (ACL tears).

Diagnosis at The New Foscote Hospital

Our consultant orthopaedic surgeons combine:

Tailored treatment planning based on activity level, ligament injured and degree of tear.
Detailed physical examination (Lachman, pivot-shift, drawer tests).
On-site imaging: High-resolution MRI and digital X-ray to grade the injury and detect associated damage.

Treatment Options

Non-surgical (Grade I–II sprains or partial tears)

RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) protocol.
Targeted physiotherapy to restore strength and proprioception.
Functional knee bracing for sport.
Anti-inflammatory medication or guided corticosteroid injections.

Surgical (full tears, combined injuries, high-demand athletes)

Arthroscopic ligament reconstruction (hamstring, patellar or quadriceps tendon grafts).
Primary repair for select MCL/LCL injuries.
Combined procedures if meniscal or cartilage damage is present.
Post-operative rehabilitation led by our in-house physiotherapy team to ensure safe return to sport and work.