Comprehensive Clinical Review: Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries — Epidemiology, Pathoanatomy, Diagnosis, Evidence-Based Management, and Rehabilitation
1. Introduction & Anatomical Context The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a broad, flat, extracapsular ligamentous structure that provides primary resistance to valgus stress at the knee—particularly between 0° and 30° of flexion—and contributes secondary restraint to anterior tibial translation and external rotation. It originates from the medial epicondyle of the femur and inserts broadly…