Posterior cruciate ligament injury: characteristics and associations of most frequent injuries

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence and combinations of PCL injuries and their correlations with the mechanism, the occurrence of evident dislocation and associated fracture. Method A retrospective study of 85 lesions of PCL operated between 2003 and 2010. Diagnosis by physical examination and dynamic radiography, compared with surgical findings. Results Injuries involving the PCL were more prevalent in men (78.8%) with a mean age of 33 years. The main cause was traffic accidents (73.80%), and (49.4%) motorcycle. Isolated PCL injury occurred in (15.3%) cases, and combined (84.7%). Among the isolated lesions, bone avulsions were nine (10.6%). The most associated PCL injuries were the ACL (48.2%), followed by LCL PCL/PLC (22.4%). Fractures were more associated with combining PCL + LCL/PLC injuries and did not appear in the PCL + MCL/PMC. Complications beyond fractures: peripheral nerve injury (4.8%) and vascular (1.2%). Evident dislocation in primary care (16.7%) was more prevalent in combined ACL + PCL + MCL/PMC (44.4%). Half the patients were operated during the acute phase. There was a statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05) comparing each combination of ligament injuries with the presence of fracture, dislocation or clear mechanism of injury. Conclusion Surgical treatment of PCL injuries in a center for orthopedic trauma care was mostly multiligament and mainly involving the ACL. A significant association was seen between the type of injury with mechanism of injury, presentation of the knee, if dislocated or reduced, and the presence of associated fracture.

Functional Outcomes Following Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Posterolateral Corner Reconstructions. A Three-year Experience in Seremban, Malaysia

“…In Malaysia, Che Ahmad et al 6 revealed that 67% of the patients with PCL tear sustained motor vehicle accidents. According to Caldas et al 7 and Schulz et al 8 motor vehicle accidents were the leading factor for isolated and combined PCL injuries which accounted for 78.8% and 45% of their cohort. On the other hand, Bernhardson et al 9 suggested that 78% of the patients suffered the PCL injury as a results of trauma due to sports event.…”

Different patient and activity-related characteristics result in different injury profiles for patients with anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament injuries

“…These findings are in agreement with previous studies reporting a higher incidence of various concomitant injuries in a population with PCL injuries, whereas ACL injuries tend to occur either in isolation or in conjunction with meniscal lesions [ 8 , 24 ]. Furthermore, the higher occurrence of concomitant injuries in PCL-injured populations has previously been attributed to high-energy injury mechanisms, leading to more complex patterns of knee ligament injuries [ 7 , 8 , 35 ]. In line with previous research, [ 3 , 8 , 9 , 27 ], a high rate of traffic- and sports-related injury mechanisms has been reported in the population with a PCL injury, while ACL injuries most commonly occurred due to sports-related activities, especially pivoting sports.…”

Comparison of the effect of the graft with double strands peroneus longus tendon and with the four strands hamstring tendon on reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament injury

“…Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), as the strongest ligament in the knee joint, is the most important joint structure to maintain the stability of the knee joint and occupies an important proportion in knee joint injury [1]. PCL injury will lead to the destruction of the knee joint's backward stability and rotation stability, seriously affecting the physiological function of the affected lower limbs, and greatly reducing the quality of life of patients [2].…”