Technique Corner: MCL

Medial collateral ligament and posteromedial corner knee injuries are among the most frequently diagnosed conditions in sports medicine. These injuries can cause medial knee pain, side-to-side instability, and lead to secondary damage to both cruciate ligaments and articular cartilage. Understanding the anatomy and native healing properties of the medial knee structures is crucial for successful treatment. An accurate diagnosis is best achieved through a combination of physical exam, objective valgus stress radiographs, and magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical management of medial ligament injuries with anatomic reconstruction has been validated biomechanically and has demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes. Failure to successfully restore medial knee laxity can lead to chronic instability, knee pain, cruciate ligament injury, and degenerative changes. Despite the potential complexity of these injuries, relying on surgically relevant anatomical landmarks and current rehabilitation principles helps optimize outcomes following surgical treatment.