Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

An increase in sporting-related injuries to the knee has resulted in rapid technological advances in the management of knee ligament and meniscal injuries, resulting in an earlier return to functionality and rehabilitation.

Posterior cruciate ligament injury is not as common as injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The posterior cruciate ligament and ACL help to hold your knee together. If either ligament is torn, you may experience pain, swelling and a feeling of instability.

The cruciate ligaments connect the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia). The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments form a cross in the centre of the knee.

While a posterior cruciate ligament injury generally causes less pain, disability and knee instability than does an ACL tear, it can still cause knee pain for several weeks or months.

Causes include road accidents and contact sports. A dashboard injury occurs when the driver’s or passenger’s bent knee slams against the dashboard, pushing in the shinbone just below the knee and causing the posterior cruciate ligament to tear. In sports such as football the player  may tear their posterior cruciate ligament when they fall on a bent knee with their foot pointed down. The shinbone hits the ground first and it moves backward. .

The main symptoms of a PCL injury are pain at the back of the knee.  In people who have injured the PCL months or years before, pain at the front of the knee can become a problem as the knee struggles to maintain stability and the kneecap cartilage wears out.

What treatments are there for Posterior Crucial Ligament Injury?

Treatment depends on the extent of your injury and whether it just happened or if you’ve had it for a while. In most cases, surgery isn’t required.

A physiotherapist can teach you exercises that will help make your knee stronger and improve its function and stability. You may also need a knee brace or crutches during your rehabilitation.

Aspiration uses a syringe to remove fluid from the joint may help to reduce swelling and increase mobility.

If your injury is severe, especially if it’s combined with other torn knee ligaments, cartilage damage or a broken bone, you may need surgery to reconstruct the ligament.This surgery can usually be performed arthroscopically by inserting a camera and long, slender surgical instrument through several small incisions around the knee.

For more information about Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in general, or to have an assessment or some treatment contact us by filling out the form below, emailing or calling us.