The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a major internal knee ligament that connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia), keeping the tibia from moving too far to the back. PCL tears can occur during a powerful, direct impact injury event like a bent knee hitting a dashboard in a car accident or a football player falling on a knee that is bent, or in a simple misstep, like stepping off an unanticipated curb. PCL injuries are sometimes associated with concomitant injuries to the meniscus (see Meniscus Tears) and other structures.

Signs & Symptoms

Typically patients report pain and notice significant swelling over the next 24-48 hours. Difficulty walking and a feeling on instability can be experienced.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a PCL tear is typically made by a combination of the patient’s history, the findings on physical examination, and an X-ray and MRI scan.

Treatment

The PCL has a reasonably good healing potential, and conservative treatment with rest, temporary immobilization/brace, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy, are often sufficient to produce a good result in most patients. Reconstruction of the ligament is sometimes needed in higher grade injuries, or if symptoms persist in active individuals. Tendon tissue harvested from the patient’s own body, or sterilized and processed donor tendon can be fashioned into a new PCL. Various surgical techniques and graft options exist, and should be tailored to each patient based on their specific situation.

At Oceana Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center, Dr. Aboka performs minimally invasive Arthroscopic PCL Reconstruction Surgery, customized to each patient, and utilizing cutting edge approaches and instrumentation, speeding up recovery and return to sports.

This procedure is outpatient/same-day surgery, and leads to less pain and scarring and quicker recovery and return to pain-free function.