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Can Grade 2 PCL And Grade 3 MCL Tear Injuries Heal Without Any Surgery?
Question: I have, according to the orthopedic surgeon I spoke to, a grade 2 PCL tear and and grade 3 MCL tear. He said if I had only one of these injuries that it could heal on its own, but since I damaged two ligaments I need surgery. I am trying to understand why the human body is not capable of healing both of these injuries without surgery.
Brief Answer:
Surgery may improve functional outcomes but medical management possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. On average, it takes six weeks for a MCL injury to heal. The initial treatment for most grade 1, 2 or 3 MCL tears focuses on reducing the pain and inflammation in the knee while immobilizing the knee to keep it stabilized. The cast or brace may be designed so that you cannot bend your knee at all. Even a grade 3 tear usually takes from four to eight weeks to heal.
The immediate course of action following a PCL injury should be resting from physical activity, icing the area to control pain, and elevating to reduce swelling. Because the PCL is difficult to operate on, surgery is typically not recommended for grade 1 and grade 2 injuries. With physical therapy and muscle strengthening, most patients will be able to return to activity without knee stability problems. Surgery on grade 3 tears must be evaluated based on how stable the knee feels when walking and running, and whether or not other ligaments are also injured or torn. A PCL knee brace is often recommended.
Combined or concomitant injuries are a rare but recognized injury pattern. However, I am not sure if that is an indication for surgery. You may go through the following academic publication:
https://link XXXXXXX com/chapter/0000
However, good functional outcomes can be achieved with surgical treatment and that could be the reason for your orthopedician advising surgery. You may go through the following academic publication:
http://YYYY.com/content/0000
However, management without surgery is possible as outlined above and you would get further insights by going through the mentioned publications.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Surgery may improve functional outcomes but medical management possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. On average, it takes six weeks for a MCL injury to heal. The initial treatment for most grade 1, 2 or 3 MCL tears focuses on reducing the pain and inflammation in the knee while immobilizing the knee to keep it stabilized. The cast or brace may be designed so that you cannot bend your knee at all. Even a grade 3 tear usually takes from four to eight weeks to heal.
The immediate course of action following a PCL injury should be resting from physical activity, icing the area to control pain, and elevating to reduce swelling. Because the PCL is difficult to operate on, surgery is typically not recommended for grade 1 and grade 2 injuries. With physical therapy and muscle strengthening, most patients will be able to return to activity without knee stability problems. Surgery on grade 3 tears must be evaluated based on how stable the knee feels when walking and running, and whether or not other ligaments are also injured or torn. A PCL knee brace is often recommended.
Combined or concomitant injuries are a rare but recognized injury pattern. However, I am not sure if that is an indication for surgery. You may go through the following academic publication:
https://link XXXXXXX com/chapter/0000
However, good functional outcomes can be achieved with surgical treatment and that could be the reason for your orthopedician advising surgery. You may go through the following academic publication:
http://YYYY.com/content/0000
However, management without surgery is possible as outlined above and you would get further insights by going through the mentioned publications.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
I read the academic publications that you sent, but I did not understand them fully.
Is it possible for my injury to heal on its own without surgery? I am very active, so remaining active is a high priority for me.
Is it possible for my injury to heal on its own without surgery? I am very active, so remaining active is a high priority for me.
Brief Answer:
Possible to do without surgery
Detailed Answer:
Academic publications can be hard to understand without having an medical background. Anyway, it is possible for your injury to heal without surgery and I have already delineated the primary line of treatment in the first two paragraphs of my previous communication. However, if you want to do without surgery, you would possibly need to use braces to immobilize your knee for the time being.
Regards
Possible to do without surgery
Detailed Answer:
Academic publications can be hard to understand without having an medical background. Anyway, it is possible for your injury to heal without surgery and I have already delineated the primary line of treatment in the first two paragraphs of my previous communication. However, if you want to do without surgery, you would possibly need to use braces to immobilize your knee for the time being.
Regards
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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