Collateral ligament knee injuries in pediatric and adolescent athletes

The vast majority of research on MCL and LCL injuries has focused on collateral ligament injuries. But there was limited research on isolated collateral ligament injuries in the pediatric and adolescent population. The results of the current study suggested that Isolated collateral ligament injuries are rare in teenage athletes.

Most of the research regarding lateral (LCL) and medial (MCL) collateral ligament injuries have concentrated on combined collateral/cruciate injuries and adults. The study aimed to discover features correlated with isolated collateral ligament injuries and evaluate the timing for return to sports.

The electronic medical records were explored to recognise patients aged below 17 years and experienced a magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed isolated LCL or MCL injury above an 8-year period. The patient and injury features and clinical course were documented using the retrospective review. Further, the analysis of risk factors for reinjury, prolonged return to sports, and continued pain were done using the general linear modeling.  

A total of 40 out of selected 50 knees, MCL injuries was seen. Out of those 40, half of the knees associated with an open distal femoral physis involving all five bony avulsion injuries. LCL injuries were seen in a total of 11 patients, of which three showed simultaneous posterolateral corner injuries. Eighty-two percent of the injuries were known to occur during sports. Out of 40 MCL injuries, 11 exhibited a concurrent patellar instability episode. During sports, 37% shorter recovery time was noticed regarding knee injuries. Twelve knees were followed over a long period for various knee issues ad eight underwent a reinjury. Soccer and football considered for all grade III injuries. The average time to return to sports noticed was 2.2 months. The grade III cases return to sports at 2.4 months and 95% of cases in 4 months.

The adolescent athletes rarely showed the isolated collateral ligament injuries. MCL injuries, one-quarter of which appeared in association with patellar instability cases, were 4 times more frequent than LCL injuries, one-quarter of which have other posterolateral corner structures included.