Non-Surgical

• PRICE. Majority of minor or sports-related injuries can be treated with the PRICE protocol. PRICE is the acronym for Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
  • Protect. Protect your knee from further injury.
    
  • Rest. Immediately stop engaging in the activity that injured you.
    
  • Ice. Apply cold packs to reduce pain and swelling.
    
  • Compression. Wear a stretchable compression bandage to prevent swelling.
    
  • Elevation. When resting, lean back and elevate your leg above your heart to help minimise pain and swelling.
• To lessen the aftermath effect of the trauma, the doctor may advise you to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen to reduce pain, swelling, and discomfort.
• You may undergo initial knee bracing to reduce discomfort while preventing posterior tibial displacement.
• The doctor may also advise you to use crutches to aid in restoring the strength of your quadriceps.
• You may be required to undergo physical therapy which includes muscle-strengthening exercises, such as quadriceps strengthening. It is best to avoid hamstring exercises as they might cause increased posterior translation.

Transtibial Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

• If your posterior cruciate ligament has been pulled and separated from its anchor point, it can be reattached to the bone through surgical screws, pins, or sutures.
  
• Allograft may also be performed through tissue taken from a donor source (cadaver). The two key benefits of allograft are quicker initial recovery and less surgical morbidity.
  
• An autograft uses the patient’s tissue for reconstruction, thus, reducing the danger of rejection. The bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) graft, hamstrings, or quadriceps tendon are a few sources for a graft.
  

Follow-up Care

You may be instructed by your doctor to keep your knee fully extended for two to four weeks while wearing a knee brace. Your shin bone (tibia) should be supported by pillows or other devices for the first two months following surgery to prevent any posterior tibial subluxation or partial dislocation.

Rehabilitation and weight-bearing cannot begin until eight weeks have passed.

What are the Risk Factors of a Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?

Below are factors that may increase the risk of posterior cruciate ligament injury:

• Sports that require frequent shifts and pivots, such as basketball, soccer, and football
• Skiing and dancing
• Engaging in manual labour such as construction and landscaping, wherein squatting and heavy lifting are common tasks
• Multi-ligament knee injuries
• Age (older adults)

What is the difference between ACL and PCL?

Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) are crucial and integral components of your knee that support and stabilise its forward and backward mobility. Both ligaments cross each other to form an “X” as they join the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone). The PCL is less frequently injured and is stronger than the ACL.

Can my torn posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) heal on its own?

Through physical therapy and bracing, it is possible for a PCL tear to recover on its own. You may then be re-evaluated to determine the best course of action for your recovery. However, if it is severely torn or damaged, reconstruction or repair may be required.

How long does it take for me to recover from a torn PCL?

Most patients typically recover in as little as ten days if the injury is minor. Depending on the extent of your PCL repair surgery, rehabilitation may take six to nine months.