Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury

What is Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury?

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is the strongest ligament in the knee to prevent the tibia from moving too much and slipping behind the femur.

Causes

Injury to the PCL occurs when direct force is applied to the front of a bent knee, such as hitting the dashboard in a car accident or falling hard on a bent knee. The ligament may also be pulled or stretched in a twisting injury, which can happen with an awkward landing after jumping.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Knee joint instability
Knee joint pain
Knee swelling and tenderness in the space behind the knee (popliteal fossa).

Treatments

Treatments may include:

Braces to support the knee
Crutches to reduce the weight on the knee
Physiotherapy to strengthen the supporting muscles and increase the range of motion
Rest, elevation, and ice therapy to the knee

Doctor may recommend surgery for ligament reconstruction depending on the situation.