@article{ref1, title="Distal MCL grade III injuries in collegiate football players: operative management, rehabilitation, and return to play", journal="Journal of athletic training", year="2020", author="Acevedo, Josue and Boden, Allison L. and Greif, Dylan N. and Emerson, Christopher P. and Ruiz, Jeffrey T. and Jose, Jean and Feigenbaum, Luis A. and Kaplan, Lee D.", volume="ePub", number="ePub", pages="ePub-ePub", abstract="Management of isolated grade III medial collateral ligament injuries is controversial, as both non-operative and operative management can result in return to play. However, operative management is recommended in grade III cases with distal avulsion in elite athletes. We present a standardized rehabilitation protocol in a case series of seven division I collegiate American football athletes with grade III distal MCL tears repaired operatively, with emphasis on return to play. Median time to surgery was 4 days (range: 2-67 days). Median time from surgery to non-contact drills was 120.5 days (range: 104-168 days) and the median time from surgery to full contact sport was 181 days (range: 139-204 days). All players returned to play at their pre-injury level of competition. Our study highlights how operative management with a standardized rehabilitation protocol can be applied to D1 football players with excellent return to play.

Language: en

", language="en", issn="1062-6050", doi="10.4085/465-19", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.4085/465-19" }