What is a lateral ligament sprain?
The lateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament (LCL) forms a connection between the femur (the thigh bone) and the head of the fibula, which is the outer bone of the lower leg. It is a narrow strong cord of collagen fibres that serves to prevent the outer surfaces of the knee joint from opening or gapping. The LCL is most commonly injured in sports by a direct impact to the inner surface of the knee joint, such as by a rugby or a football tackle. Injuries of this type are less common than those affecting the medial collateral ligament (MCL) which commonly occur as a result of trauma to the outer surface of the knee joint. In addition, the LCL is not connected to the lateral meniscus and so unlike MCL injuries, they are not normally associated with meniscal tears. However, due to the nature of the injury the anterior cruciate or posterior cruciate ligaments may also become damaged.
