My knee bent outward in a fall and now the outside hurts. What could it be?

What happens in this kind of injury

The outer side of the knee is held together by the LCL and a group of nearby structures called the posterolateral corner. A force that pushes the knee outward, a blow to the front-inner side of the knee, or a fall that bends the knee backward can overload them. This is less common than an MCL sprain, but it is often more significant, because isolated outer-side injuries are relatively rare and other ligaments are frequently involved.

What patients usually notice

• Pain and tenderness on the outer side of the knee, sometimes down towards the fibula bone below it
• Swelling and bruising at the side or back of the knee
• A feeling that the knee bends backward too far or wobbles outward when standing straight
• Difficulty on stairs or turning, as the knee does not feel solid
• In some cases, tingling on the top of the foot or weakness lifting the toes

What to do now

Protect the knee with crutches if it feels unstable, use ice and elevation, and avoid testing it with sport. Do not let the knee snap back into hyperextension while walking. If the foot feels numb, weak or cold, or the leg looks deformed, go to an emergency department immediately or call 999 in Qatar.

Why early assessment matters

Outer-side ligament injuries are among the knee injuries most often overlooked at first, and the window for straightforward repair is usually the first few weeks. At Aman Hospital in Doha, Dr. Gelber examines the knee for outer-side opening and abnormal rotation, checks the nerve that runs around the fibula, and arranges MRI and, when needed, stress X-rays to see exactly what is torn.