PCL Tear Treatment

PCL Tear Treatment in Hoover and Birmingham, Serving Central Alabama

The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is one of the most important connective tissues in the knee. If it becomes injured or torn, the resulting pain may severely limit a person’s comfort and mobility. Medical attention is necessary to help patients return to the activities they love.

Located in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, AL, Southlake Orthopaedics provides complete orthopedic care to patients throughout central Alabama. Learn more about how we support patients at every stage from diagnosis to surgery and rehabilitation, so they can experience less pain, more living.

What Is a PCL Tear?

A posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear is an injury to one of the bands of connective tissue in the knee. The knee joint is composed of three bones: the femur, tibia, and patella. Connecting these bones are four tough bands of connective tissue called ligaments. These bands hold each bone in place and keep the joint stable.

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of two cruciate ligaments, along with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). These two ligaments form a cross within the knee. Together, they are responsible for controlling forward and backward motion. The PCL by itself locks the tibia in place, keeping it from sliding backward, preventing knee overextension.

PCL injuries are rare due to the high strength of the PCL. In fact, they account for only 20% of all knee ligament injuries. When PCL injuries happen, they can be partial, meaning that some parts of the ligament remain intact. They may also be complete, meaning that the whole PCL is severed.

PCL Tear Symptoms

PCL tears typically occur suddenly. The person feels or hears a pop in their knee, followed by weakness or a feeling that the knee has given out. Many patients experience severe pain at the time of injury. Others do not experience any immediate pain, though discomfort may develop later. Other symptoms will increase steadily after the initial injury. These often include:

Pain that increases steadily after injury
Swelling around the knee, resulting in stiffness
Weakness or instability in the knee
Difficulty walking.

These symptoms may resemble other types of knee injury, such as an ACL tear, MCL tear, or LCL tear. Patients should seek a medical diagnosis from the board-certified physicians at Southlake Orthopaedics to ensure their injury is identified and treated correctly.

PCL Tear Causes and Risk Factors

PCL tears are usually caused by sports injuries, but they may also be the result of a car crash or other accident. The injury occurs when the knee takes a direct and powerful blow to the front – for example, falling onto a bent knee. In other instances, it occurs due to extreme twisting or hyperextension while the knee is carrying weight.

PCL injuries are most common in athletes, especially those who participate in high-contact sports. Inadequate training or preparation can increase the risk of injury. This includes:

Failing to stretch before sports
Insufficient warmups
Poor muscle conditioning around the knee
Improper jumping and landing techniques
Inappropriate or poorly fitting footwear

A previous knee ligament injury can also weaken the knee, making it more susceptible to further injuries.

Diagnosing PCL Tears

People who experience a knee injury should seek medical attention. Their physician will perform a physical exam to learn more about the injury, including where it hurts and how it has affected the knee’s range of motion. They may also assess other structures in the knee, including the bones and other ligaments, to rule out other types of injury.

The physical exam is not always conclusive. If there are still questions about what type of injury the patient has experienced, imaging tests like an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be ordered. Imaging test results can confirm a PCL tear and determine whether other tissues are also damaged. They also help the physician evaluate the injury’s severity and plan an appropriate treatment.

Treatment Options for PCL Tear

After diagnosis, the Southlake Orthopaedics team will discuss potential treatment options with the patient. We use multiple approaches depending on the severity of the injury.

If only the PCL is injured and the tear is incomplete, it may heal well without surgery. The RICE method – rest, ice, compression, and elevation – is recommended for the initial recovery. The patient may also be fitted with a brace at our full-service, surgeon-led orthotics lab, which will stabilize and immobilize the joint while it heals. Once the swelling recedes, physical therapy and rehabilitation will strengthen muscles around the knee to restore function and reduce the likelihood of a second injury.

If the tear is severe or if pain persists after conservative treatments, then surgery is recommended. Surgery for a torn PCL involves rebuilding the ligament with a tissue graft. It is typically performed using an arthroscope, or tiny camera, for a less invasive procedure and a faster recovery.

Meet Our Team

At Southlake Orthopaedics, our team of board-certified, multi-specialty physicians provide diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of ligament tears and other related conditions. Their broad orthopedic expertise enables a comprehensive approach to sports medicine. Meet our doctors below:

These experienced physicians help patients achieve less pain, more living, through a comprehensive approach to care that covers every phase from diagnosis to rehabilitation. Our offices are located in Birmingham-Grandview and Hoover, AL. Contact us to learn more about our knee injury treatments or to schedule an appointment for diagnosis.

Find Treatment for PCL Injuries in Alabama

Don’t let an accident keep you from playing the sports you love. Instead, you can experience less pain, more living at Southlake Orthopaedics. Our multi-specialty team treats a variety of sports injuries, including PCL tears, at state-of-the-art facilities in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, AL. Contact us to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.

PCL Tear Treatment