Does a Grade 1 MCL tear require surgery?
These grades include: Grade I MCL tear: A Grade I MCL tear is the mildest injury, generally characterized by minimally torn fibers. Treatment for a grade 1 MCL tear doesn’t require surgery given that the ligament, in most cases, is intact with no loss of integrity.
How long does it take for a Grade 1 MCL to heal?
As previously noted, recovery times vary widely, but in general: A grade 1 (minor) MCL tear can take from a few days to a week and a half to heal enough for a return to normal activities, including sports. A grade 2 tear can take from two to four weeks to heal.
How long does torn MCL surgery take?
It is not done arthroscopically, since this ligament is not actually within the knee joint. The procedure usually takes one to two hours, depending whether other ligament or cartilage damage is evident. General anesthesia is typically used for this surgery, though in some cases a spinal or epidural anesthetic is used.
Does Grade 3 MCL tear need surgery?
MCL injuries rarely need surgery immediately. Severe Grade 3 sprains, where the ligament is torn off the tibial side, have a low chance of healing with non-operative management and surgery is indicated.
When does MCL tear require surgery?
Since Grade III MCL injuries are complete tears, the ligament is unable to heal itself and surgery is needed. Surgery may also be needed if there is any grade of an MCL tear along with other ligament issues.
Can you bend your knee with a torn MCL?
When your MCL is damaged, your knee can over-extend itself, or bend too far in a direction that it’s not supposed to bend. You may heal on your own with basic care, rest, and rehab. But if your injury is severe, you may need to have surgery.
Can you walk with torn MCL?
Teens with a torn MCL usually need to take time off from sports, especially the sport in which the injury happened. If there is no pain and the knee does not “give way,” they can usually walk, stretch, and do low-impact activities such as swimming.
What does a Grade 3 MCL tear feel like?
Grade 3 — Considerable pain and tenderness at the inside of the knee; some swelling and marked joint instability. The knee opens up about 1 centimeter (slightly less than half an inch) when the doctor moves your leg around. A grade 3 MCL tear often occurs along with a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
Does a grade 2 MCL tear need surgery?
A total rupture of the MCL usually doesn’t require surgery. Only in cases where the tear hasn’t healed after conservative therapy or other knee ligaments are damaged is surgery recommended. Surgery to repair a torn MCL involves stitching the ends of the ligament together or re-attaching it to the bone.
Is walking good for MCL injury?
Your physical therapist may advise you to: Rest the area by avoiding walking or any activity that causes pain. Crutches and a knee brace may be recommended to reduce further strain on the MCL when walking. Apply ice packs to the area for 15-20 minutes every 2 hours.
Does a torn MCL hurt to touch?
When the medial collateral ligament is injured, most experience pain along the inner knee, and some can actually describe feeling or hearing a “pop.” For the first few days after the injury, the inner part of the knee can appear swollen and “black and blue” (ecchymotic) and is almost always tender to the touch.
How bad is a grade 2 MCL tear?
Grade 2 (partial MCL tear) – Tending to cause swelling, knee instability and more severe pain, a grade 2 partial MCL tear is an incomplete but significant tear. Patients with this kind of MCL injury can expect a recovery period of around 2-4 weeks.
What are the long term effects of a MCL tear?
Long-term effects of a MCL injury depend on the extent of the original damage and how well the knee heals. If the ligament remains loose, the knee will feel unstable. There will be a tendency for the joint to give way possibly leading to re-injury.
Does a MCL tear heal able on its own?
While an MCL tear can be extremely painful, the good news is that the tear usually heals on its own after a few weeks of rest. While there are no figures available on how many MCL injuries occur each year, it is considered the most common type of knee injury.
What is a typical MCL recovery timeline after surgery?
The average recovery time for MCL surgery is about six months, but the full range is from twelve weeks to twelve months at each end of the spectrum.
Will my MCL heal on its own?
The medial collateral ligament or MCL tear may heal on its own with the right care, rehabilitation, and rest. Healing depends on the severity of the injury. As the MCL has a good blood supply, most MCL tear usually responds to simple home treatments, such as: Resting the knee. Wearing a brace.