The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is the counterpart to the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. Together, these ligaments form an X within the knee and stabilize the knee joint. The PCL prevents the shinbone from moving too far backward.
While PCL tears are less common than ACL tears, they can occur from a direct blow to the front of the shin. Tearing the PCL can result in pain, swelling, and stiffness. These symptoms could make movements like walking, running, squatting, and going up and down stairs difficult and painful.
Treatment for a PCL tear depends on the severity of the tear and the patient’s symptoms. Many PCL tears can recover with nonsurgical treatment, including physical therapy. Surgery may be needed for significant PCL tears, especially if another part of the knee is also injured.
PCL surgery is performed using knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions, a camera, and small instruments to reconstruct the PCL with a tendon graft.
