Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury
Injury to the ligament at the back of the knee, often from a direct blow.
Overview
A PCL injury involves the ligament at the back of the knee, often from a blow to the front of a bent knee (such as a dashboard injury) or a fall. Many isolated PCL injuries are managed with strengthening-based rehabilitation.
Symptoms
- Pain and swelling at the back of the knee
- A sense of instability, especially on slopes or stairs
- Difficulty with deep bending
- Often less dramatic than ACL injury
Causes
- A blow to the front of a bent knee
- A fall onto a bent knee
- Sporting and road-traffic injuries
Treatment
- Quadriceps-focused strengthening
- Bracing in some cases
- Graded return to activity
- Surgical opinion for combined or unstable injuries