Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Tears

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a wide, thick band of tissue that runs down the inner part of the knee from the thighbone to a point on the shinbone about four to six inches from the knee. The MCL prevents the leg from extending too far inward, helps keep the knee stable, and allows the knee to rotate.

Injuries to the MCL can happen when the knee is hit directly from its outer side, causing the ligaments on the inside of the knee to stretch too far or to tear. It is not uncommon to tear the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the same time. The MCL can also be injured through repeated stress, which can cause the ligament to lose its normal stretch and elasticity.

Symptoms of an MCL tear can include:

• Pain, the severity of which depends on the severity of the tear 
• Stiffness 
• Swelling 
• Tenderness along the inside of the knee 
• Instability, or a feeling that your knee may give out 
• Locking or catching 

Depending on the degree of pain or looseness of the knee joint, the MCL tear will be classified as:

Grade I: Some tenderness and minor pain at the injury site.
Grade II: Noticeable looseness of the knee with manual movement, major pain and tenderness at the inside of the knee, and swelling.
Grade III: Significant pain and tenderness at the inside of the knee, swelling, marked joint instability with manual movement. A grade III MCL tear is often accompanied by an ACL tear.

Tears of the MCL usually respond well to non-surgical treatment, including rest, bracing, over-the-counter pain relievers, and physical therapy. If surgery is required, it is usually done through a small incision on the inside of the knee. If the MCL has become torn where it attaches to the thighbone or shinbone, the surgeon will re-attach the ligament to the bone using large stitches or a metal screw or bone staple. If the tear is in the middle of the ligament, the surgeon will sew the torn ends together.

If you’ve sustained an MCL tear as a result of a work-related injury, you may be eligible for Minnesota workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense benefits, wage loss benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, and /or rehabilitation benefits. For a free, no-obligation case consultation, call Meuser & Associate at 877-746-5680, or click here to send us an email.

Avoiding Work-Related Knee Injuries: MN Work Comp.

Knee injuries are one of the most common work-related injuries we see in our Minnesota workers’ compensation practice. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, knee injuries send nearly 15 million Americans to the doctor every year.

From WebMD, here are six things you can do to avoid serious injuries to your knees:

1. Don’t ignore knee pain. In general, if your knee pain limits your ability to engage in your normal activities, it’s time to get it checked out. A minor knee injury can turn into a major knee injury without medical care.
2. Lose weight. Extra weight puts extra strain on your knees. Obesity increases your risk for osteoarthritis, a common and debilitating form of arthritis, and extra weight can cause existing arthritis to worsen more rapidly.
3. Follow through with rest and rehabilitation. Properly rehabilitating your knee after an injury is important to avoiding aggravations or re-injuries. Folks often go back to full-duty work before their knee injuries are fully healed, leading to a subsequent re-injuries that are usually worse.
4. Take care of your ACL. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) account for about 150,000 knee injuries each year.
5. Don’t overdo it. Knees are also susceptible to overuse and repetitive use injury. Kneecap pain and tendinitis are common symptoms of knee overuse injuries.
6. Take care of other muscles in your legs, hips, and pelvis. When the muscles around the kneecap, hip, and pelvis are strong, it keeps the knee stable and balanced, providing support by absorbing some of the stress exerted on the joint.
   

Knee injuries can be debilitating, resulting in surgery and medical expenses, lost time from work, and permanent impairment. If you’ve sustained a work-related knee injury in Minnesota, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, including reasonable and necessary medical care, wage loss benefits, permanency benefits, and rehabilitation services.

Work-related knee injuries can be devastating. Contact Meuser & Associates, P.A., at 877- 746-5680 or click here to send us an email to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your Minnesota workers’ compensation rights.

Visit our workers' compensation website at MeuserLaw.com!