Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries generally cause less disability and instability of the knee than ACL tears do.

The term "cruciate" is derived from the Latin word "crux," which means "cross." The posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments form a cross inside the knee. The function of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is to limit forward movement of the shinbone (tibia). The function of the PCL is to limit the backward movement of this bone.

A tear in the PCL may be caused by any force that drives the tibia backward on the upper thighbone (femur), including sports injuries and front-impact auto accidents. Signs and symptoms of PCL injury may include:

bulletKnee pain
bulletKnee swelling
bulletFeeling of instability in the knee or that the knee may "give out"

A diagnosis of a PCL injury is usually made by:

bulletPhysical examination of the knee.
bulletPosterior drawer test. In this test, you bend your knee and your doctor gently moves your lower leg backward at the knee. If you're unable to stop this backward movement, your PCL is torn.
bulletMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

Treatment may include:

bulletRehabilitation exercises that emphasize strengthening of the front thigh muscles (quadriceps)
bulletWearing a brace
bulletSurgical reconstruction of the ligament

By Mayo Clinic Staff