Causes

Injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament are not as common as other knee ligament-related injuries. In fact, they are often subtle and thus more difficult to evaluate than other knee-ligament injuries.

Many times, a posterior cruciate ligament injury occurs along with injuries to other structures in the knee such as cartilage, other ligaments and bone.

Similar to other parts of the body, injuries to the ligaments are called sprains and are graded on a scale of 1-3 of severity.

The Grades are:

Grade 1: The ligament is mildly damaged and it has been stretched, but it is still capable of keeping the knee joint stable.
Grade 2: The ligament is stretched to the point where it becomes loose. This is often referred to as a partial ligament tear.
Grade 3: Commonly referred to as a complete ligament tear, the ligament has been split into two pieces, and the knee joint is unstable.

Common causes of PCL injuries include:

A direct blow to the front of the knee such as a bent knee hitting a dashboard in a car crash or a fall onto a bent knee while playing a sport.
Pulling or stretching the ligament such as in a twisting or a hyperextension injury.
A simple misstep.

Symptoms

The typical symptoms of a posterior cruciate ligament injury are:

Pain with associated swelling that occurs steadily and quickly after the injury.
Swelling that makes the knee stiff and may cause the patient to limp.
Difficulty with mobility and walking.
The knee feels unstable as though it may “give out”

Treatments

Non-Surgical:

If you injure just your posterior cruciate ligament, your injury may heal without surgery. A doctor may recommend simple, non-surgical options, including:

RICE. The RICE protocol is effective for many sports-related injuries. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.

Rest: Patient should refrain from participating in demanding physical activities, particularly the activity that caused the injury.
Ice: Use cold packs of crushed ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day with at least one hour between icing sessions.
Compression: To prevent additional swelling and blood loss, wear an elastic compression bandage. Consult a doctor to insure that you are doing so safely and correctly.
Elevation: To reduce swelling, recline when resting, elevating the injured extremity (leg) above the level of the heart.

Immobilization: Your doctor may recommend a brace to prevent your knee from moving.

Physical therapy: As the swelling goes down, a careful rehabilitation program is started. Specific exercises will restore function to your knee and strengthen the leg muscles that support it. Strengthening the muscles in the front of your thigh (quadriceps) has been shown to be a key factor in a successful recovery.

Surgical:

A doctor may recommend surgery if you have combined injuries.

Rebuilding the ligament: Sewing the ligament back together does not usually heal, a torn posterior cruciate ligament typically has to be rebuilt. A doctor will replace the torn ligament with a tissue graft that is taken from another part of the patient’s body or from another human donor.

What Is A Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury?

More Information About Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury

Causes

Symptoms

Treatments

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