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Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury of the knee |
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| Definition: | LCL injury is a stretch, partial tear, or complete tear of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the knee. (The term "lateral" means the ligament is on the outside of the knee.)
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| Alternative Names: | LCL injury; Knee injury - lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
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| Considerations: | A lateral collateral ligament test may reveal a looseness in the ligament. This involves bending the knee to 25 degrees and placing pressure on the inside surface of the knee.
Other tests may include:
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| Causes: | The latreal collateral ligament (LCL) extends from the top-outside surface of the fibula (the bone on the outside of the lower leg) to the bottom-outside surface of the femur (the thight bone). The ligament stabilizes the knee on the outside of the joint.
The LCL is usually injured by pressure placed on the knee-joint from the inside , resulting in stress on the outside of the joint (varus stress).
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Review Date: 11/15/2002
Reviewed By: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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