pcl

1. Posterior cruciate ligament
Dr. Dhruv Taneja
M.P.T, MIAP
Assistant Professor

2. • The posterior cruciate ligament (or PCL) is one of the
four major ligaments of the knee. It connects
the posterior intercondylar area of the tibia to the medial
condyle of the femur.
• The PCL is a strong fan shaped and intracapsular
ligament along with the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL).
• They are both isolated from the fluid-filled synovial cavity,
with the synovial membrane wrapped around them.
• It has two parts
a. Anterolateral
b. posteromedial

3. • The function of the PCL is to prevent the femur from
sliding off the anterior edge of the tibia.
• Prevents hyperflexion of the knee to a lessor extent with
ACL but its main function is to check extension and
hyperextension.
• It also helps in checking the rotational movements with
ACL.
• To prevent the tibia from displacing posterior to the
femur.*****

4. • DIRECT BLOW TO THE KNEE WHILE IT IS
FLEXED(dashboard injury)
• FALLING HARD ON THE KNEE
• Hyperextension injury
• (any mechanism that involves the knee to be forced
posteriorly can leads to pcl injury).

5. • Classification based on posterior subluxation of tibia
relative to femoral condyles (with knee in 90° of flexion)
• Grade I (partial)
• 1-5 mm posterior tibial translation
• tibia remains anterior to the femoral condyles
• Grade II (complete isolated)
• 6-10 mm posterior tibial translation
• complete injury in which the anterior tibia is flush with the
femoral condyles
• Grade III (combined PCL and capsuloligamentous)
• >10 mm posterior tibial translation
• tibia is posterior to the femoral condyles and often indicates
an associated ACL and/or PLC injury

6. • History
• Special tests (please name it )
• M.R.I/C.T scan
Note:- whoever will name the special tests has to explain it

7. • Posterior drawers test***
• Reverse lachmans test*
• Godfreys test

11. • Complete rest
• Surgical intervention
• Physiotherapy rehabilitaion

12. • Complete rest is advised within a supportive brace for
grade 1 and grade 2 tear of PCL, which generally heals
on its own.
Surgery :-
Surgery is performed for grade 3 and grade 4
tearing.
Graft is taken from either hamstrings or achilles
tendon.
Ligament reconstruction arthroscopy is performed.

13. • Acute stage(the aim of acute stage stage Rx is to control pain
and inflammation).
1. PRICE
2. Ankle toe movements
3. Quadriceps sets at the earliest.
4. Cryotherapy- ice packs for 15 mins every hour.
5. U.S.
6. IFT
7. TENS
(PRECAUTION:- Protect the knee from posterior or extension
stresses).

14. 1. SLR
2. QUADRICEDPS SETS
3. SELF ASSISSTED KNEE ROM EXERCISES
4. HAMSTRINGS SETS
5. DELORME,S EXS

15. 1. Focus on quadriceps and hamstrings sets as they are
the one which will be giving trouble to the patient.
2. Focus on hip flexors and extensors aswell.

17. • Leg lifts in standing with brace on for balance and hip
strength
Progression criteria
• Patient may progress to Phase II if they have met the
above stated goals and have
• • Pain free gait using brace without crutches,
• • No effusion
• • Knee flexion to 90°

19. • • Patient may progress to Phase III if they have met the
above stated goals and
• have
• • Normal gait on all surfaces
• • Ability to carry out functional movements without
unloading affected leg and
• without pain, while demonstrating good control
• • Single-leg balance greater than 15 seconds
• • Full range of motion.

21. • • Patient may progress to Phase IV if they have met the
above stated goals and have
• • Normal gait on all surfaces
• • Ability to carry out multi-plane functional movements
with out unloading affected leg or pain, while
demonstrating good control
• • Ability to land from a sagittal, frontal and transverse
plane leap with good control and balance

23. • Dynamic neuromuscular control with multi-plane
activities, without instability,
• pain or swelling