1. Powerful Forces can Tear a PCL
A PCL tear is an injury to the knee that occurs when a bent knee is struck head-on just below the kneecap. The PCL or Posterior Cruciate Ligament is the connective tissue that attaches the front part of the thighbone (femur) to the rear of the shinbone (tibia). It is located in the back of the knee. The purpose of this ligament is to prevent the shinbone from moving too far backwards. A rupture or tear will occur if struck by a powerful force while bent.
2. Not Enough Strength in the Leg
Rapid swelling of the knee within an hour or so of the injury will indicate a knee injury involving the PCL. Marked pain will be present when trying to walk on the knee or when even trying to move the knee. There is also a feeling of not enough strength in the leg to hold you upright.
3. Diagnosis of PCL Tear
A physician will examine the knee for injury by performing some manual manipulations. Tests will examine if the movement of the knee is excessive compared to the knee that didn't suffer an injury. Further confirmation of a PCL injury entails an MRI or a joint x-ray. This will show the structure around the knee and help to determine exactly what kind of injury is present.
4. Making the Knee All Better
Initial treatment for the injured knee is ice packs every 15 minutes, for 15 minutes. Alternating with the ice, compression and elevation of the leg will control and reduce swelling. To aid in controlling the pain and decrease the swelling due to inflammation, the physician prescribes NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The NSAIDs of choice are aspirin or ibuprofen. Once the swelling subsides, physical therapy will be required to regain range of motion for the knee and to strengthen the thigh muscle. Alternative treatment may be required, which will involve surgery. Arthroscopic surgery repairs and rebuilds the knee joint and the attached ligaments and tendons. Reconstruction of a completely torn PCL uses a graft either from the patient or from a cadaver. Pencil-sized instruments pass through small incision on the sides of the knee to conduct the reconstruction.
5. What Does It Mean for the Future?
Rehabilitation and recovery for the PCL tear may take up to several months. A regimen of physical therapy and weight lifting helps to strengthen the quadricep muscle and stabilize the knee. Range of motion exercises build the knee back to where it was before the injury, but strengthening the knee is the main aim. Weight lifting like squats and leg presses will stabilize the knee by not putting undue stress on it while still building the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support and stabilize it.
