PCL tear

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The PCL or the Posterior Cruciate Ligament is a ligament that is present in the knee. The Posterior Cruciate Ligament has a large percentage of similarity with the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Both the ligaments connect the femur with the tibia and the only difference is that the PCL is larger than ACL and stronger too. But those who are involved in contact sports get a PCL tear from injuries.

What are the causes of PCL tear?

There are several reasons due to which you can develop a PCL tear. Some of them are:

• If you are in a car and there is an accident, you might happen to feel an impact on your knee from the dashboard of the car. This can lead to a PCL tear. (DASHBOARD INJURY)
• If you fall on your knee while playing any game and if you are in the bent position when you fall, there is a chance of getting a PCL tear.
• Those who are involved in sports like football, baseball, soccer or skiing often get a PCL tear.

How can a PCL tear be classified?

PCL tears are usually classified on the basis of their intensity into various grades.

• Grade I: If there is a partial tear in your PCL, then it is classified as Grade I.
• Grade II: In case of a Grade II tear, the ligament tears partially and also becomes loosened which is not the case in Grade I.
• Grade III: In this type of PCL tear, the injury is quite serious and the knee becomes unstable as well. The ligament is also completely torn.
• Grade IV: In this type of injury, not only is the PCL damaged but along with it, another adjacent ligament is also damaged.

What are the symptoms of PCL tear?

The various symptoms which occur as a result of the PCL tear are as follows:

The first though that comes to everyone’s mind when they encounter a minor PCL tear is that they might be having a knee problem. But that is not always the case as it might be something graver than a simple knee pain.

• A swelling around the knee joint is one of the major symptoms that occur after a PCL tear.
• Sometimes, people also complain of a wobble feeling in their knee region.
• A knee pain which ranges from mild to chronic is persistent depending upon the grade of injury.
• People often find it difficult to walk or do activities that involve bearing weight on the knee.
• If a PCL tear is not diagnosed and treated within the required time, then it might even lead to osteoarthritis.

What are the treatment options for a PCL tear?

• If your PCL tear is not too much serious, then you can get better with non-surgical rehabilitation. Your doctor might suggest a temporary knee brace and even ask you to walk with crutches until you can stand properly.
• Surgical procedures are requires when the injury is serious and involves more than one ligament or parts of a bone.

Our clinic specializes in treating patients and even athletes who have encountered a PCL tear and return them back to their normal life.