Knee Ligament Surgery - Northern Kentucky
Aptiva Health provides comprehensive knee ligament care in Northern Kentucky — from the first evaluation through imaging, conservative treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation — anchored by board-certified sports medicine orthopedic surgery and a team of orthopedic advanced practice providers. We treat MCL, PCL, and LCL injuries, prioritizing conservative care first and offering ligament repair and reconstruction when surgery becomes the right answer. With on-site MRI, on-site physical therapy, and an in-house orthopedic and sports medicine team, the entire knee ligament care pathway happens under one roof.
Medically reviewed by D. Philip Stickney, MD. Last reviewed: May 2026.
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The Knee Ligaments
The knee is held together and stabilized by four major ligaments — strong bands of tissue that connect the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia) and keep the joint moving the way it should:
Medial collateral ligament (MCL) — runs along the inner side of the knee and resists forces that push the knee inward. The MCL is the most commonly injured knee ligament.
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) — runs along the outer side of the knee and resists forces that push the knee outward. Isolated LCL injuries are less common but tend to be more serious.
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) — sits deep at the back of the knee and keeps the shinbone from sliding backward. PCL injuries are often caused by a direct blow to the front of a bent knee.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) — sits at the front of the knee. ACL injuries are treated through ACL reconstruction.
This page focuses on MCL, PCL, and LCL injuries. Aptiva Health's sports medicine team treats all four ligaments, including combined and multi-ligament injuries.
MCL, PCL, and LCL Injuries
Knee ligament injuries differ a great deal depending on which ligament is involved — and so does whether surgery is needed.
MCL injuries are the most common. The MCL is usually injured by a blow to the outer side of the knee or a twisting force. Because the MCL has a good blood supply, most MCL injuries — including many complete tears — heal without surgery, using a brace, physical therapy, and time.
LCL injuries are less common but more likely to need surgery. The LCL and the structures around it on the outer side of the knee heal poorly on their own, so a complete LCL tear — particularly as part of a posterolateral corner injury — often requires surgical repair or reconstruction.
PCL injuries are frequently caused by a direct blow to the front of a bent knee — a "dashboard injury" in a car accident, or a fall onto a bent knee. Many isolated, lower-grade PCL injuries are managed without surgery; complete tears and combined injuries more often need reconstruction.
Multi-ligament injuries — two or more ligaments torn at once, sometimes with a knee dislocation — are serious injuries that usually require surgery and careful surgical planning.
Grades of Knee Ligament Injuries
Ligament injuries are graded by severity, which guides treatment:
Grade I (mild sprain) — the ligament is stretched with microscopic tearing but remains intact, and the knee stays stable. These rarely require surgery.
Grade II (partial tear) — the ligament is partially torn and the knee is moderately unstable. Treatment depends on which ligament is involved and the patient's activity level.
Grade III (complete tear) — the ligament is fully torn and the knee is unstable. Whether surgery is needed depends on the ligament: many Grade III MCL tears still heal with bracing, while Grade III LCL and PCL tears — and any multi-ligament injury — more often require surgery.
Symptoms of a Knee Ligament Injury
Knee ligament injuries share several symptoms, with the location of the pain often pointing to the injured ligament:
Pain over the injured ligament — on the inner side of the knee for an MCL injury, the outer side for an LCL injury, and the back of the knee for a PCL injury.
Swelling and bruising — usually over the torn ligament within the first few days.
A feeling that the knee is unstable or "gives way" — more pronounced with complete tears.
Difficulty bending the knee or bearing weight.
A pop or tearing sensation at the moment of injury, in some cases.
How Knee Ligament Injuries Happen
Each ligament tends to be injured by a particular kind of force:
MCL — a blow to the outside of the knee that buckles the joint inward, or a twisting injury. Common in football, soccer, and skiing.
LCL — a blow to the inside of the knee that forces the joint outward. Less common, and frequently part of a larger injury.
PCL — a direct blow to the front of a bent knee (a dashboard injury or a fall onto the knee), or a hyperextension injury.
Knee ligament injuries are common in cutting and contact sports and in motor vehicle accidents. They frequently occur alongside other knee injuries, including ACL tears and meniscus tears.
How a Knee Ligament Injury Is Diagnosed
At Aptiva Health, diagnosing a knee ligament injury usually takes a single visit:
History. Your provider asks how the knee was injured, where it hurts, and whether the knee has felt unstable since.
Physical examination. Ligament-specific stress tests — valgus and varus stress testing for the MCL and LCL, and the posterior drawer test for the PCL — identify which ligament is injured and how severe the injury is.
Imaging. An MRI confirms which ligament is torn, shows the severity of the tear, and identifies associated injuries to the other ligaments, the meniscus, or cartilage. Aptiva Health operates its own MRI imaging centers, so most patients can get same-week MRI scheduling without the multi-week wait that hospital-based imaging typically requires.
Treatment plan. After the exam and imaging, your provider walks you through the diagnosis, the surgical and non-surgical options, and the recovery timeline. You leave with a written plan.
Treatment for Knee Ligament Injuries
Treatment depends on which ligament is injured, the grade of the tear, whether more than one ligament is involved, and the patient's activity level.
Non-surgical treatment
Many knee ligament injuries — most MCL injuries and many isolated, lower-grade PCL and LCL injuries — heal without surgery. Conservative care includes bracing or a knee immobilizer to protect the ligament while it heals, physical therapy to rebuild strength and stability, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory medication. A Grade III MCL tear, for example, often heals over roughly 10 to 12 weeks with appropriate bracing and rehabilitation.
Surgical treatment
Surgery is recommended for complete tears that will not heal on their own — particularly LCL and PCL injuries — for a knee that remains unstable after conservative care, and for multi-ligament injuries. Aptiva's sports orthopedic surgeons perform:
Ligament repair — reattaching or stitching the patient's own torn ligament, used when there is healthy ligament tissue to work with.
Ligament reconstruction — replacing the torn ligament with a graft, used for chronic instability or complete tears that cannot be repaired.
Multi-ligament reconstruction — a coordinated surgical plan addressing two or more torn ligaments.
Learn more about knee ligament surgery procedures →
Repair vs. reconstruction — and the InternalBrace technique
Whenever healthy ligament tissue can be salvaged, repairing the patient's own ligament is preferred over replacing it. When an MCL repair is indicated, Aptiva Health performs it using the MCL InternalBrace technique — a strong suture tape anchored across the ligament that reinforces the repair and helps stabilize the knee while the MCL heals. When a ligament is too damaged to repair, or when chronic instability has set in, reconstruction with a graft restores knee stability.
Recovery
Recovery depends on the ligament and the severity of the injury. A braced ligament injury can recover in several weeks, while a return to sport after a ligament reconstruction typically takes six to nine months — longer for a multi-ligament injury. Aptiva Health coordinates post-operative physical therapy in-house, which keeps rehabilitation on schedule.
Why Patients Choose Aptiva Health for Knee Ligament Care in Northern Kentucky
One knee team, one care pathway. From the initial evaluation through MRI, conservative care, surgery, and post-operative rehab, the patient stays inside one organization. The surgeon, the orthopedic PA and APRN, the physical therapist, and the imaging center all share the same chart and the same plan.
Conservative care first, surgery when it's right. Most MCL injuries and many PCL and LCL injuries do not require surgery. Our team starts with the least-invasive treatment likely to work and recommends surgery only when symptoms and imaging both indicate it.
Same-week knee evaluations. Aptiva Health Indianapolis offers same-day and same-week orthopedic appointments — patients do not wait months for a first visit. Acute knee injuries can be seen right away through our Immediate Injury Care walk-in clinic.
On-site imaging and therapy across Northern Kentucky. With on-site MRI imaging and in-house orthopedic, sports medicine, and physical therapy services, the scan, the diagnosis, the surgery, and the rehab all happen close to home.
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When to See a Doctor - Call Now!
You should be evaluated by a sports orthopedic surgeon promptly if you experienced:
A knee injury followed by pain over the inner, outer, or back of the knee
Swelling or bruising after a twisting injury, a blow to the knee, or a fall
A knee that feels unstable or "gives way"
Inability to bear weight on the knee
A knee injury from sports, a fall, or a work or auto accident
Get to an emergency room or urgent care immediately if you have an obvious knee deformity, a knee that may be dislocated, inability to bear any weight, or numbness or loss of circulation in the foot — these can indicate a multi-ligament injury, dislocation, or vascular injury.
For non-emergency knee evaluation, Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky offers same-day and same-week appointments.
Meet the Northern Kentucky Knee Ligament Team
D. Philip Stickney, MD - Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. D. Philip Stickney, MD, a board -certified orthopedic surgeon, has been providing general orthopedic care for over 25 years. He received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with orthopedic surgery training at Mt. Sinai in Cleveland and Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio. He treats a variety of conditions from arthritis to sports medicine and occupational injuries. As former team physician for Hiram College in Ohio, he has a breadth of experience treating non-operative and operative conditions including:
Schedule a Knee Ligament Consultation in Northern Kentucky — Schedule Now
Aptiva Health – Northern Kentucky: 2093 Medical Arts Drive, Hebron, KY 41048
Drive times:
5 minutes from CVG (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport)
10 minutes from Florence, KY via I-71/75
12 minutes from Burlington and Union via KY-237
15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati via I-275 East
18 minutes from Covington and Newport
20 minutes from Anderson Township and Mt. Washington (OH)
25 minutes from Price Hill, Westwood, and Delhi Township
30 minutes from Florence Mall and the Boone County line south
Communities we routinely serve: Hebron, Florence, Burlington, Union, Walton, Erlanger, Edgewood, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Independence, Covington, Newport, Fort Thomas, Cold Spring, Alexandria, Highland Heights, and across the river in Cincinnati, Anderson Township, Delhi Township, Cheviot, Price Hill, and Westwood.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Walk-in injury care availability may vary; call ahead to confirm.
Insurance accepted: Most major medical insurance, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, most Kentucky Medicaid plans, workers' compensation, auto injury coverage (PIP and MedPay), and cash-pay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Ligament Surgery in Northern Kentucky
What ligaments does knee ligament surgery treat?
The knee has four major ligaments. This page covers injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) on the inner side of the knee, the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) at the back of the knee, and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) on the outer side. The fourth, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), may be treated through ACL reconstruction. Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky evaluates knee ligament injuries, including ACL injuries and more complex injuries involving multiple structures.
Do MCL tears need surgery?
Many MCL injuries can heal without surgery. Treatment may include bracing, physical therapy, activity modification, and time. Surgery may be considered when an MCL injury does not heal adequately and leaves the knee unstable or when the MCL is injured along with other ligaments. Your Aptiva Health orthopedic surgeon will evaluate your symptoms, physical exam, and imaging to determine an appropriate treatment plan.
Do PCL tears need surgery?
Many isolated PCL injuries can be managed without surgery using bracing, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Surgery may be considered for more severe PCL tears, injuries involving additional ligaments, or persistent knee instability after conservative treatment. When reconstruction is appropriate, the damaged ligament may be replaced with a graft to help restore stability.
Does an LCL tear need surgery?
Treatment for an LCL injury depends on the severity of the tear and whether other structures in the knee are also injured. Lower-grade sprains may be treated with bracing, physical therapy, and activity modification. More severe LCL injuries, particularly those involving the posterolateral corner or multiple knee ligaments, may require surgical repair or reconstruction. Prompt orthopedic evaluation can help determine the extent of the injury and appropriate next steps.
What is the difference between ligament repair and ligament reconstruction?
Ligament repair involves repairing or reattaching the patient's existing ligament when the tissue and injury pattern make that possible. Ligament reconstruction replaces the damaged ligament with a graft and may be considered for complete tears, chronic instability, or injuries that cannot be repaired.
Your orthopedic surgeon will recommend an approach based on the ligament involved, the location and severity of the tear, the timing of the injury, and your individual needs.
What is the InternalBrace technique for MCL surgery?
An InternalBrace technique may be used in certain ligament repairs to reinforce the healing ligament with strong suture tape anchored around the repaired tissue. The reinforcement is designed to provide additional stability while the ligament heals. Whether this technique is appropriate depends on the injury pattern and your surgeon's recommended treatment plan.
What is a multi-ligament knee injury?
A multi-ligament knee injury occurs when two or more of the knee's major ligaments are injured at the same time. These injuries can occur with significant trauma and may sometimes be associated with a knee dislocation.
Because multiple structures may be involved, these injuries require careful orthopedic evaluation and treatment planning. Treatment may involve a combination of bracing, rehabilitation, repair, or ligament reconstruction depending on the severity and pattern of injury.
How are knee ligament injuries diagnosed?
Knee ligament injuries are typically evaluated using a history of how the injury occurred, a physical examination, and imaging when appropriate. Your orthopedic provider may perform specific tests to evaluate knee stability and determine which ligaments may be involved.
MRI can provide detailed images of ligaments, menisci, cartilage, and other soft tissues within the knee. Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky offers on-site MRI and digital X-ray at its Hebron location, helping coordinate imaging with orthopedic care.
How long is recovery after knee ligament surgery?
Recovery varies depending on the ligament involved, the type of procedure, whether other structures were injured, and the individual patient. Less severe ligament injuries treated without surgery may improve over several weeks, while recovery following ligament reconstruction generally involves a longer, staged rehabilitation process.
Multi-ligament injuries may require additional recovery time. Your Aptiva Health orthopedic team will provide a rehabilitation plan based on your procedure, progress, and activity goals. Physical therapy is also available through Aptiva Health for coordinated post-operative rehabilitation.
Who performs knee ligament surgery at Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky?
Orthopedic care at Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky is provided by D. Philip Stickney, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 25 years of experience.
Dr. Stickney treats a variety of knee conditions, including sports-related and occupational injuries, and performs knee arthroscopy, including ACL and meniscus surgery. He provides both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic care and works with Aptiva Health's physical therapy and imaging teams to coordinate treatment.
How quickly can I be seen for a knee injury in Northern Kentucky?
Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky offers same-day appointment availability for many orthopedic injuries and concerns. Patients with an acute knee injury can also access Immediate Injury Care at the Hebron location.
The Northern Kentucky clinic offers on-site digital X-ray and MRI, allowing patients to access orthopedic evaluation and imaging within the same organization when imaging is appropriate.
Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky is located at 2093 Medical Arts Drive, Hebron, KY 41048, convenient to Florence, Burlington, Union, Erlanger, Covington, and the greater Cincinnati area.
Does insurance cover knee ligament surgery?
Coverage for knee ligament evaluation and surgery depends on your insurance plan, medical necessity, and specific benefits. Aptiva Health Northern Kentucky accepts many major commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Kentucky Medicaid for orthopedic services, workers' compensation, and auto-accident coverage.
Patients with knee injuries related to a work injury or auto accident can also contact Aptiva Health for assistance coordinating care. The team can help verify insurance benefits and coverage before treatment.