DR. ONG KEE LEONG
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury
While an MCL injury can significantly impede movement and disrupt your lifestyle, it is generally treatable. Although the recovery period largely depends on the severity of the tear, the healing process is usually quick with the appropriate treatment methods.
Book AppointmentWhat Is Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury?
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is one of the four main ligaments that provide stability in your knee joint. The MCL is located on the inside of your knee joint and connects the top of the shinbone to the bottom of the thigh bone.
An MCL injury is a rupture of the ligament tissues connecting the shinbone and the thigh bone.
Grades of MCL Injury
- 1st Grade – stretched but not torn MCL with mild symptoms
- 2nd Grade – partially torn MCL with moderate symptoms
- 3rd Grade – completely torn MCL with severe symptoms
What Causes MCL Injury?
An MCL injury typically occurs when there is a sudden forceful change in movement and direction of the knee joint or when there is a violent direct blow to your outer knee.
These situations will lead to excessive pressure on your knee joint, resulting in your MCL stretching out and potentially tearing. Examples include a sudden change in direction while running, falling or any vigorous activities that require a sudden pivot, such as football or hockey.
What Are the Symptoms of MCL Injury?
- A loud popping sound
- Sharp pain in the knee when moving
- Tenderness along the inner part of your knee
- Rapid swelling of the knee joint
- Significant decrease in range of motion
- The feeling of instability
How Is MCL Injury Diagnosed?
A physical examination of your knee may be conducted by placing it into various positions to test its range of motion. Checks for tenderness and pain by applying pressure on the inside and outside of your knee may also be performed.
Further imaging tests such as an x-ray or MRI scan may be performed to determine the severity of your injury and identify any other damages in your knee.
These diagnostic tests will help your knee specialist conclude if your knee injury is an MCL tear and eliminate other potential injuries such as a bone fracture.
What Are the Treatment Options for MCL Injury?
There are various treatment options for an MCL injury, mainly non-surgical and surgical methods.
Non-Surgical Options
As the MCL is located in an area with a good blood supply, an MCL injury typically responds well to non-surgical treatment. It will heal on its own after a few weeks, especially for mild injuries (1st Grade).
For more severe MCL injuries, physical therapy may be recommended.
Surgical Option
Surgery is rarely performed on MCL injuries. However, it may be recommended for severe cases when the torn ligament cannot repair itself naturally or when an MCL injury occurs with other ligament damage.
Why Do Patients Choose Dr Ong Kee Leong?
- Dr. Ong Is Passionate In Sports, Giving Him A Deep Understanding Of Sports-Related Injuries And How They Can Be Treated
- Fellowship Trained Surgeon With 15 Years Of Experience In Orthopaedic Conditions
- Personalised And Professional Approach To Deliver High-Quality Orthopaedic Care Based On The Most Up-To-Date Literature
- Detailed Aftercare Plan To Ensure Smooth, Long-Term Recovery
- Problem-Oriented, Well-Organised and Individualized Treatment Plans Catered To Your Specific Needs
- Specialist In The Management Of Sports Injuries And Degenerative Conditions Of The Shoulder And Knee Joints
- Knowledgeable And Pleasant Clinical Staff To Assist You With Your Every Need Detailed Aftercare Plan To Ensure
- Our Care Is Conveniently Accessible At Mount Elizabeth Novena and Farrer Park hospital
- Minimal Waiting Time For Initial Consultation
- Assistance With Medical Claims (e.g. Medisave & Integrated Shield Plans)
“Moving your body the way nature intended is a freedom not well appreciated until it is lost. We are passionate about getting you back in the game, and staying in the game. My team and I are fully committed to returning you to the life and activities you love.”
Dr. Ong Kee Leong
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About Dr. Ong Kee Leong
Senior Consultant, MBBS (Singapore), MMed (Ortho), FRCSEd (Ortho)
Dr. Ong Kee Leong is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon. He subspecializes in shoulder and knee, foot and ankle, hand wrist and elbow surgeries, arthroscopic sports surgery, and the management of sports-related injuries.
He has been registered with the Singapore Medical Council as a specialist in Orthopaedic Surgery since 2011.
- MBBS, National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Medicine 2001
- Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 2007
- Master of Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery (NUS) 2007
- Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Orthopaedic Surgery 2011
- Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) Scholarship, Ministry of Health 2012-2013:
- Sports Surgery and Arthroscopy in Germany (Hannover)
- Adjunct Assistant Professor, Lee Kong Chian School Of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University
- Senior Clinical Lecturer, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS
Awards & Teaching
- Dr. Ong had received numerous awards such as Best Service and Eastern Health Alliance Caring (Gold) Awards.
- He also has an interest in clinical research and has written papers in multiple peer-review journals. As a Core Faculty of Singhealth Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, he oversees the training of junior orthopaedic surgeons.
- Regularly invited to teach local and regional surgeons in Shoulder and Knee Surgery Courses.
- He is a recipient of multiple teaching awards including the Singhealth Residency Outstanding Faculty Awards from 2014-2016 and Changi General Hospital Outstanding Educator Awards 2015-2016.
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Billing & Payment
Consultation fees are charged based on length of consultation, and start from SGD$150 (within 30 minutes).
Modes of Payment
We accept the following modes of payment:
- Cash
- PayNow & PayLah
- All major Credit Cards
If you are insured and would like to use a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) from the major insurers in Singapore, please contact us and our friendly clinic staff will assist you and provide more information if required.
Can I Claim Through My Medisave Account? (For Singaporeans and PR)
Yes, you can. Our Clinic is an accredited day surgery clinic by the Ministry of Health. Singaporeans and Permanent Residents may use their Medisave for eligible orthopaedic inpatient procedures and hospitalizations.
The exact amount would depend on the complexity of the procedure. If you have any enquiries, feel free to speak to our friendly clinic staff about using your Medisave account.
Integrated Shield Plans (Singaporeans and PRs)
Yes, patients who have purchased Integrated Shield plans with riders for co-insurance and deductibles will be able to use them in our clinic for eligible procedures. For more information, contact us to find out if your procedure is claimable.
The 6 Approved Integrated Shield Insurers are:
- NTUC Income’s IncomeShield and Enhanced IncomeShield
- American International Assurance International Co’s (AIA) HealthShield Gold
- Great Eastern Life Assurance Co’s SupremeHealth and SupremeHealth Plus
- Aviva Ltd’s MyShield
- Prudential Assurance Co’s PRUShield
- AXA Shield
