Isolated distal grade III lateral collateral ligament injury: what is the real clinical impact in professional athletes?

The isolated III grade lateral collateral ligament injuries are rare, and there is limited literature available on their management. We report 3 cases of professional soccer players with isolated distal lateral collateral ligament III grade injury, confirmed by MRI studies. After undergoing MRI examinations, all three players resumed competitive activity without resting and experienced no consequences regarding joint stability. We assessed the significance of the lateral collateral ligament in providing lateral stabilization to the knee joint in professional footballers with clinical tears of the lateral collateral ligament. The other structures of posterolateral area that remain intact contribute to joint stability, and the lateral collateral ligament’s extra-articular position appears to expedite the ligament’s healing process. Therefore, we propose a possible conservative treatment approach, mostly for professional athletes and adolescent patients, involving a rehabilitation plan without the need for surgery.