Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL Tear) Injury
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a tough band inside your knee that helps keep it stable. It runs from the back of your shinbone to the front of your thigh bone. When this ligament gets stretched or torn, it’s called a PCL injury. It usually happens when your knee gets bent backward too much.
What are the Symptoms of PCL Tear?
PCL injuries don’t often cause a popping sound like other knee injuries. Instead, you might feel:
✓ Swelling and pain in your knee.
✓ A shaky feeling, like your knee might give out.
✓ Difficulty walking or putting weight on your knee.
If you have a mild PCL injury, you might not notice any problems at first. But over time, it can lead to knee arthritis.
What are the causes of PCL injury?
✓ Fall onto a bent knee.
✓ Are hit hard on the front of your knee (think dashboard in a motor vehicle accident).
✓ Bend your knee too far backward.
✓ Dislocate your knee.
✓ Land improperly after a jump.
How to Diagnosed PCL Injury?
To figure out if you have a PCL injury, Dr. Vishal Mandlewala at Renison Knee and Shoulder Clinic will:
✓ Ask about how the injury happened and what you’ve been feeling.
✓ Check your knee’s movement and press on it to see if it’s injured.
✓ Look for signs like unusual backward bending of the knee or test ligament tightness.
✓ Use imaging tests like X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to see inside your knee.
Home Treatment of a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?
For the first treatment of a PCL injury, you can follow the PRICE approach:
✓ Protect your knee from further injury.
✓ Rest your knee and avoid activities that make it hurt.
✓ Ice your knee for short periods to reduce pain and swelling.
✓ Compress your knee gently with an elastic bandage.
✓ Elevate your knee by propping it up when sitting or lying down.
You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling.
When to Contact Your Doctor?
Call your doctor if you have a PCL tear and:
✓ Feel severe knee pain or notice swelling or bruising.
✓ Have trouble moving your knee or feel like it’s unstable.
✓ Hear popping or snapping sounds during the injury.
✓ Have any other concerns about your knee injury.
Why You Might Need Treatment?
If you have a PCL tear, you might need Arthroscopy surgery to:
✓ Relieve knee pain.
✓ Restore stability to your knee.
✓ Improve your knee’s movement and function.
✓ Prevent further damage to your knee joint.
✓ Return to your normal activities, like sports or work, with more confidence and less risk of re-injury.
Take Home Message:
Dr. Vishal Mandlewala at Renison Knee and Shoulder Clinic can help guide you through the treatment options tailored to your needs.
