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| The medial collateral ligament lies relatively close to the skin on the inner and outer part of the knee respectively. The medial ligament (MCL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. It is injured when the upper leg is straight while the lower leg is rotated outwards, as when catching the tip of a ski, or when the knee is struck from the side as in a tackle.
Water on the Knee
| Water on the knee in itself is not harmful |
People with knee pain commonly feel that the knee is warm and swollen, even if the heat is not detectable and the swelling is not visible to an outside observer. However, some patients truly have visible swelling, and this is particularly true in someone who has twisted his or her knee. When the knee appears swollen, the orthopedist will want to differentiate between a knee that is simply puffy and a knee that is filled like a water balloon. A knee that is puffy is akin to a sponge that has absorbed water: if you put a needle in it, you will not get fluid out. True “water on the knee” is a condition where fluid fills the joint, in the same way that water fills a vase. The medical term for water on the knee is “effusion”. The knee feels like a water balloon. Such fluid accumulation is not harmful.
The Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
The MCL can be injured with one of three degrees of severity:
- Grade I: The ligament is mildly stretched.
- Grade II: The ligament has been considerably stretched but it is still in one piece.
- Grade III: The ligament has been stretched and torn into two pieces.
MCL Sprain
An MRI is not necessary. To diagnose this condition |
Each of these is very painful, and, because of this, most people readily accept the concept that they have suffered a serious injury, which requires an MRI and an operation. Wrong!
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