Posterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture

The Posterior Cruciate Ligament is located in the back of the knee. It keeps the tibia from moving backwards too far.

Cause

A direct blow to the front of the knee (such as your shin hitting a dashboard in a car crash, or falling onto a bent knee in sports)

Pulling or stretching the ligament such as in a twisting or hyperextension injury

Simple misstep

Symptoms

Severe pain and inability to continue activity

A loud "pop" or a "popping" sensation in the knee

Swelling that begins within a few hours of injury

A feeling of instability or "giving way" with weight bearing

Difficulty walking

Tests and Diagnosis

Often simple X-Rays, physical exams, and other imagings like MRIs can suffice to make a diagnosis

Treatment

Conservative treatment

You may also wear a brace to stabilize your knee and use crutches for a while to avoid putting weight on your knee. After a period of time for stabilization, you may start rehabilitative physical therapy. Posterior Cruciate Ligament injuries tend to have a high recovery rate using conservative treatment options, but this still only applies to partial PCL rupture and recommended to patients with lower activity level.

Surgical treatment

PCL Reconstruction : Remove the damaged ligament and replace it with a segment of tendon — tissue similar to a ligament that connects muscle to bone. This replacement tissue is called a graft. Because the tendon necessary is longer than that used for ACL reconstruction surgery, your surgeon will use a piece of tendon from a donor.