Traumatic Injury of Medial Meniscotibial Ligament – Diagnostics and Conservative Treatment

Abstract

The paper aims to present diagnostic methods and options of conservative treatment of traumatic injuries of medial meniscotibial ligament (MTL). Ca. 75% of all sport-related injuries pertains to the lower extremity; among those, knee damage the second most frequent, after ankle damage. The anteromedial part is where knee pain occurs most frequently. Knee injuries often lead to damage to ligament structures, including medial meniscotibial ligament, which is rarely reported in the literature. Those ligaments may be damaged when the knee is subject to forces leading to valgity and rotation of the femur, internally, and of the tibia, externally. Damage may be caused in an isolated manner, through overloads and combined microdamage. Medial meniscotibial ligaments are formed by a fibrous layer of the articular capsule and are a part of the deep medial collateral ligament. They run from the medial meniscus to the proximal part of the tibia. An MTL examination consists of three parts: medical interview, physical examination and additional examinations. Due to the structure of MTL, its diagnostics must be expanded by an examination of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the medial meniscus. Treatment in the acute condition is carried out according to the PRICE (Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) rules. In the subacute and chronic condition, therapy may be expanded for instance by manual therapy methods, functional training, physical therapy and kinesiology taping.