Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
(PCL Tear)
Pronounced: pos-tea-ree-or kru-shee-ate lig-a-ment
Definition
A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury is a partial or full tear of the tough band of fibers that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone.
Posterior Cruciate LigamentCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Causes TOP
PCL injury is caused by excess force on the knee. This may be from:
- A direct blow to the knee
- Twisting the knee
- Falling on a bent knee
Risk Factors TOP
Some sports may raise the risk of this injury, such as football and soccer. Being in a motor vehicle accident may also raise the risk.
Symptoms TOP
An injury to the PCL may cause:
- Pain and swelling in the knee
- Soreness in the area behind the knee
- Weakness or instability in the knee
- Problems walking
- Pain when moving the knee
Diagnosis TOP
The doctor will ask about your symptoms, health history, and how the injury happened. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the knee.
The doctor may suspect a PCL injury based on symptoms. Images may be done to confirm it. This can be done with:
Treatment TOP
The PCL does not heal on its own. The goal is to ease pain and improve movement. This may be done with:
- Ice and rest to ease pain and swelling
- Medicine to ease pain and swelling
- Exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the knee
- A brace to keep the knee from moving
- Crutches to take weight off of the leg
Some people may need surgery. It will remake the PCL with tissue from other areas of the body or from donor tissue.
Prevention TOP
The risk of an ACL injury may be lowered by stretching and strengthening the muscles around the knee and in the front of your thigh.
RESOURCES:
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org
OrthoInfo—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://orthoinfo.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org
REFERENCES:
Ligament injuries to the knee. John Hopkins Medicine website. Available at.
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed March 30, 2020.
Posterior cruciate ligament injuries. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated February 2009. Accessed March 30, 2020.
Last reviewed February 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Last Updated: 3/30/2020