Ultrasound-Guided Medial Collateral Ligament

The medial collateral ligament (MCL), also known as the tibial collateral ligament (TCL), is one of the four main ligaments of the knee. It is located on the medial (inner) side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. Its primary purpose is to combat outward turning pressures on the knee.

When the outer knee is struck hard, the MCL, which runs parallel with the inner knee, will extend out far enough to strain or break. People who play football, hockey, and other sports in which players collide with other athletes with great force can injure their MCL in this manner. They can even stretch or break your MCL if your knee is abruptly pulled to the right, or if it twists or stretches out too far.

Most people experience discomfort and swelling around the inside edge of their knee. When the knee is damaged, patients will hear a pop and the leg may lurch to one side.

Since ultrasound is so sensitive, it could be used as the first rapid imaging modality in patients with potential medial meniscus or MCL breaks, and it could also be used as a diagnostic technique for both acute and chronic knee pain.

Our orthopedist clients tends to use the USB Linear 5-12MHz Ultrasound Scanner USB-UL2. It shows the medial collateral ligament’s dense hyperechoic filaments and the femur and tibia’s medial margins’ bony contours.

Its high-resolution imaging aids the specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of MCL. It gives real-time advice for positioning the needle tip close to the medial collateral ligament.

For the evaluation of MCL damage, ultrasound is a very effective imaging modality. It may be used to evaluate symptoms such as a suspected occult mass or tumor, as well as to confirm the diagnosis of a suspected medial collateral ligament injury.

References: Medial Collateral Ligament, Ultrasound-Guided Injection Technique for Medial Collateral Ligament, 

Disclaimer: Although the information we provide is used by different doctors and medical staff to perform their procedures and clinical applications, the information contained in this article is for consideration only. SONOSIF is not responsible neither for the misuse of the device nor for the wrong or random generalizability of the device in all clinical applications or procedures mentioned in our articles. Users must have the proper training and skills to perform the procedure with each ultrasound scanner device.

The products mentioned in this article are only for sale to medical staff (doctors, nurses, certified practitioners, etc.) or to private users assisted by or under the supervision of a medical professional.