Knee ligament injuries
The knee is held together by several ligaments. Read more about knee ligament injuries →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the orthopaedics wait, updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
orthopaedics waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 5 weeks |
| Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust | Bath and North East Somerset | 12 weeks |
| Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Liverpool | 13 weeks |
| George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust | Nuneaton and Bedworth | 13 weeks |
| South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust | Warwick | 14 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust | Birmingham | 15 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 15 weeks |
| University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Camden | 16 weeks |
About knee ligament injuries
The knee is held together by several ligaments. Besides the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the collateral ligaments at the sides (the MCL and LCL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) at the back can be sprained or torn, usually by a blow to the knee, a twist, or a fall. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, and a feeling that the knee may give way.
How it is treated
Most collateral ligament injuries heal without surgery, with rest, ice, a brace or support, pain relief, and physiotherapy to rebuild strength and stability. An MRI scan can show which ligaments are involved. More severe tears, posterior cruciate injuries, or injuries involving several ligaments at once may need surgical reconstruction, which a knee specialist will discuss with you.
After treatment
Lighter sprains settle over a few weeks. Fuller tears, and any surgery, need a longer, staged physiotherapy programme, often a few months, before returning to sport or heavy activity. Sticking with the exercises is the key to getting full strength and stability back.
Sources: NHS: Knee pain, NHS: Sprains and strains. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.