ORTHOPAEDIC KNEE SURGEON
The lateral collateral ligament is extremely rarely injured except as part of a high energy injury with complex and multiple ligamentous instabilities.
When the lateral collateral ligament is torn, it requires surgical repair and an augmentation of the repair with a secondary graft. This entails not only a repair of the torn ligament using sutures and suture anchors to the bone, but also a reconstruction using a hamstring graft.
Lateral collateral ligament repair and reconstruction are not arthroscopic procedures and is performed through small incisions on the lateral side of the knee.
Return to sporting activity after a lateral collateral ligament repair is typically 12 to 18 weeks.