What Is a PCL Injury and What Can I Do About It?

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury - What Is a PCL Injury and What Can I Do About It?

By Stacie L. Grossfeld, MD

The posterior cruciate ligament or PCL is a ligament located in the knee. The strong band of tissues that comprise the PCL serves to connect your tibia to your femur. More commonly people experience an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) but it is also possible to experience a PCL injury or tear.

There are a number of things that may cause a posterior cruciate ligament tear. Most commonly a PCL injury happens following some type of fall or other powerful strike to the knee, particularly if the knee is bent during the incident. Certain sports may also have a higher likelihood for PCL tears, for example, soccer, skiing and football.

PCL injuries span a range in severity from less severe to very severe. Typically during a physician's medical assessment for a PCL tear, during diagnosis, a physician may determine the grade of the injury, ranging from the most mild Grade 1 signifying a partial tearing of the PCL to the most severe Grade 4, when the PCL is torn along with other knee ligaments like for example the ACL.

Aside from notable physical pain, other signs of a damage to the posterior cruciate ligament includes swelling in the knee, difficulty walking, and an unstable feeling in the knee. If you think you have a PCL injury or some other knee related injury, it is advisable that you seek medical attention from a qualified doctor. Board certified orthopedic physicians specialize in knee injuries and will be able to offer expert diagnosis and treatment.

If you are getting examined for a knee injury, you may be required to have X-rays to determine whether you have broken or damaged any bones. MRIs are also able to provide information about the location and severity of the injury.

Non-surgical medical treatment for a PCL injury may include rest, ice, compression and the use of crutches to stabilize the knee. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are also sometimes recommended to relieve inflammation and pain. In addition, physical therapy may be advised as part of the recovery process from a PCL injury.

Sometimes surgery is required to repair a more serious PCL injury. Surgical intervention administered by a board certified orthopedic surgeon for posterior cruciate ligament injuries often involves arthroscopy.

If you are experiencing knee pain and are concerned that you may have a PCL injury, damaged anterior cruciate ligament or ACL injury, or some other type of knee injury, you should seek medical treatment from an orthopedic doctor or another qualified medical professional as soon as possible.

Dr. Stacie L. Grossfeld is a board certified Orthopaedic Surgeon practicing in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Fowler-Kennedy Sports Medicine Center. Dr. Grossfeld currently works as a louisville orthopedic surgeon in private practice at Orthopaedic Specialists. Dr. Grossfeld also serves as a clinical instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Louisville. Her special interests are in knee and shoulder reconstruction and sports medicine. Find out more about Dr. Grossfeld's orthopedic medical practice or call 502-212-2663.


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