Management of the Patient with an ACL/MCL Injured Knee

The knee is a mobile functional anatomical unit which plays a key role in recreational function. In the last three decades, the knee has received a great deal of attention in the sports medicine literature, particularly in respect to isolated ligament pathology and management. In reference to combined multiple ligament pathology, a more limited number of articles exist, and indeed lead to confusing management. Although hundreds of publications address the topic of surgical correction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), debate continues regarding clinical intervention for the patient with combined ACL and medial collateral ligament (MCL) management. Issues exist which the clinician must consider, including which structures require repair, timing of surgical intervention, and rehabilitation approaches. This article will attempt to define a treatment algorithm for the clinician to consider with simultaneous injury to the ACL and MCL.