MCL Injury

MCL Injury Specialist

Are you an athlete who participates in contact sports, or jumping and landing? If so, you may be at risk of tearing your MCL. An MCL injury can be sustained during an awkward landing in athletic activities, from a dirt biking injury, or from a tackle in football. MCL injury specialist, Dr. Matthew Provencher provides diagnosis and both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Vail who have an MCL injury. Contact Dr. Provencher’s team today!

Request Appointment

970-479-5806

What is an MCL Injury?

The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is one of the four main ligaments found within the knee joint. The MCL begins at the end of the femur (thighbone) and extends to the top of the tibia (shinbone). Located on the inside of the knee, the ligament provides stability when the knee is moved from side to side and protects against widening of the inside of the joint. A patient may experience an MCL injury when extreme force is applied to the outside portion of the knee, such as when a football player is tackled with impact on the lateral side of the joint. A medial collateral ligament tear may occur when the ligament is stretched beyond its normal range of motion. If this occurs, Dr. Matthew Provencher, orthopedic knee specialist serving the Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado communities, is available to diagnose and treat the MCL tear and return patients to an active, pain-free lifestyle.

An MCL injury is quite common and typically occurs during a hard hit, fall onto the outside of the knee or an awkward landing during sports activities. A medial collateral ligament tear is classified in a Grade 1-3 system, ranging from a stretch to a complete MCL tear.

Grade 1- An incomplete, mild tear where the MCL is stretched but still intact
Grade 2- An incomplete, partial tear that creates pain and instability when a patient attempts to pivot
Grade 3- A complete MCL tear that causes extreme pain within the knee joint

What are Symptoms of an MCL Injury?

The hallmark symptom of an MCL injury is knee pain. Patients may also experience swelling, bruising and instability when weight is placed on the injured knee.

How to Know if you Have an MCL Injury

Dr. Provencher will determine an MCL injury with a combination of a physical examination, medical review, a series of x-rays and an MRI scan. The physical examination is designed to test range of motion, function, strength and overall pain following a medial collateral ligament tear. Dr. Provencher will view the x-rays in great detail to rule out damage to the bony structures. He will view the MRI to assess severity of ligament damage and to confirm no other soft tissues were injured during the MCL tear.

Have you sustained an MCL injury?

There are two ways to initiate a consultation with Dr. Provencher:

You can provide current X-rays and/or MRIs for a clinical case review with Dr. Provencher.

You can schedule an office consultation with Dr. Provencher.

Request Case Review or Office Consultation

What are MCL Treatment Options?

Treatment of a medial collateral ligament tear depends on severity of damage to the ligament and patient’s overall knee function.

Does an MCL Injury Require Surgery?

An incomplete or partial MCL tear is commonly treated with the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method, bracing and strict physical therapy protocols prescribed by Dr. Provencher. It is strongly suggested that patients work with the in-house physical therapists at Howard Head Sports Medicine to optimize their rehabilitation.

What is an MCL Reconstruction?

If the MCL injury failed to respond to conservative treatment measures or if the tear is too severe, a surgical procedure may be recommended by Dr. Provencher. He commonly utilizes an open procedure to repair or reconstruct the damaged MCL. If possible, he will perform a repair and suture the torn ligament to promote healing. If this is not possible, he will perform either an augmentation (suturing the remaining ligament and reinforcing with a graft) or a complete reconstruction (reconstructing the entire ligament with a graft), depending on injury severity. The grafts are typically taken from the patient or are a donated graft from another individual. Dr. Provencher will explain the pros and cons of each graft option in great detail at a patient’s first consultation.

For additional resources on an MCL injury, such as a medial collateral ligament tear, please contact the orthopedic practice of Dr. Matthew Provencher, knee specialist located in the Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado area.

Matthew Provencher, MD | Orthopedic Knee & Shoulder Surgeon | Vail Aspen Denver Colorado Springs, CO

Average rating:

0 reviews

Matthew Provencher, MD

66 reviews

James Wilson

Oct 11, 2024

by James Wilson on Matthew Provencher, MD

Senior Electronics development engineer

Wow the Steadman clinic and Doctor Matthew Provencher now that;s a super combination of expertise, experience, empathy, skill and a cherry picked staff with truly outstanding nurses and professional support staff. I was scared of shoulder surgery until I read Dr. Provencher BIO and talked to him. If your considering shoulder replacement surgery this is the place. In three weeks out now and people are amazed at my ability of movement and flexibility I have now. I love the Steadman Clinic and Dr. Matthew Provencher, He's Superman

Anne Miller

Jun 18, 2024

by Anne Miller on Matthew Provencher, MD

Grateful to Dr Provencher and his team

I am a 75-year old, active, athletic woman. Over the last few years, both of my shoulders reached a point where severe arthritis was affecting even day to day tasks. It started with one shoulder in 2021 and recently the second reverse shoulder replacement – both with Dr Provencher. Before my first one, I had received various recommendations including adjusting my lifestyle. Dr Provencher looked at my MRI and x-ray and asked what I enjoy doing and was quick to let me know I could be back to my active lifestyle soon – and he was right. He reads images faster and more accurately than any doctor I have consulted. He has many options available and if you need surgery he is the one to do it. Surgery is quick and the recovery is much easier than I anticipated. I am 10 days out from my second reverse shoulder and have no pain and gaining mobility already! My case for both shoulders was a bit more complicated due to bone integrity, severe arthritis and bicep tears. Dr Provencher has dealt innovatively with both complications and makes it seem straightforward although I know it was not. He is not only one an extraordinary surgeon, but also, a caring human being who takes the time with his patients and makes himself available if questions arise. His team is second to none – Maddy, Madison, Sam, Scott, Jasmin and in pre-op, Layla and Kevin – in terms of commitment, competence, compassion and responsiveness. Both times I have felt cared for and that resolving my situation mattered to him. Wherever you live, Dr Provencher and his team are the ones to trust. There is no need to live a compromised life!

Gene reiling

Jul 21, 2023

by Gene reiling on Matthew Provencher, MD

Success

If you are planning to see Dr Provencher ,do not hesitate ,do it. In 2018 Dr Provencher replaced my LCL. I had no complications and very little pain. I did my physical therapy as prescribed. I was able to ski 30 plus days the winter of 2019-2020. Before seeing dr Provencher I had spent a years time trying to solve my problem locally. I saw a pain specialist, orthopedic urgent care and a orthopedic surgeon. All had access to an mri done locally. It was also read by local radiologist. Pain dr gave injections as did orthopedic urgent care. No relief from pain. Orthopedic surgeon told me about arthritis, meniscus needing cleaning up and general deterioration from age. Told me to take ibuprofen for pain. At that time I reached out to Steadman Clinic. By luck of the draw I was assigned Dr Provencher. I took with me the mri that had been done locally and viewed by 3 local Drs and 1 PA. It took Dr Provencher less than a minute to tell me my problem was my LCL after viewing my mri. He told me my options . I selected surgery as I wanted to continue an active life style. It was a complete success!!

Knee | Shoulder | Joint Preservation | Arthroplasty