First degree lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury

Alternative names:

injury - knee - LCL - first degree; injury - lateral collateral ligament - first degree; injury - LCL - first degree; knee injury - lateral collateral ligament - first degree; lateral collateral ligament injury - first degree

Definition:

An injury to the knee described as a stretch of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) somewhere along the length of the ligament, resulting in unchanged knee joint tightness. See also Second or third degree lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is a ligament extending from the top-outside surface of the fibula to the bottom-outside surface of the femur. The ligament prevents the knee joint from lateral instability, that is, instability on the outside of the joint.

The LCL is usually injured by pressure placed on the knee-joint from the inside or medial pressure, resulting in stress on the outside of the joint (varus stress).