eMedicine Specialties > Sports Medicine > Knee

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Follow-up

Author: Charles S Peterson, MD, Consulting Staff, Arizona Sports Medicine Center
Coauthor(s): Thomas Agesen, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mountainside Hospital, Summit Overlook Hospital; Janos P Ertl, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chief of Orthopedic Trauma, University of California at Davis; Director of Amputee Clinic, Kaiser Hospital; Gyorgy Kovacs, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Consulting Surgeon, GOC Clinic
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 22, 2006

Follow-up

Return to Play

When nonoperative treatment has been initiated, the athlete may return to play once the quadriceps strength has been regained. Yearly follow-up is recommended to monitor the knee for degenerative changes. Athletes with PCL injuries that have been operatively treated may return to sports at 9-12 months following surgery, pending the course and compliance with physical therapy and also the return of quadriceps strength. Follow-up at 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 52 weeks following surgery is recommended.

Complications

Possible complications associated with PCL injury include the following:

  • Initial stiffness
  • Instability
  • Progressive arthritis
  • Postoperative complications

Prevention

Most cases of PCL injuries are not preventable. Athletes who participate in at-risk sports should maintain good strength and flexibility and should practice good techniques within their specific sports. Some physicians advocate the use of functional knee braces for reducing the risk of a recurring PCL injury when returning to activity.

Prognosis

See Physical Therapy, Acute Phase.

Education

Patient education is very important throughout the rehabilitation process for individuals with PCL injuries. Athletes should be informed of the benefits and risks of possible treatments and be involved in the decision-making process. To achieve their goals and be able to return to play, patients need to be compliant with their physician's instructions and physical therapy program as outlined by their therapist. As patients progress through their rehabilitation program, they should be instructed in a home exercise program for continued strengthening to decrease their risk for a recurrent injury.

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Foot, Ankle, Knee, and Hip Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Knee Injury and Knee Pain.

Miscellaneous

Special Concerns

  • Patients who sustain isolated PCL tears may function quite well; however, they are predisposed to developing early degenerative articular changes. Combined PCL and other knee ligament injuries usually lead to chronic instability and progressive articular changes.
  • Although the natural history is developing, treatment of PCL injuries remains controversial. Further long-term studies of results comparing operative and nonoperative treatment are needed.
 


More on Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

Overview: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Treatment & Medication: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Follow-up: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Multimedia: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

posterior cruciate ligament, PCL injury, PCL tear, posterior knee instability, posterior laxity of the knee

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Charles S Peterson, MD, Consulting Staff, Arizona Sports Medicine Center
Charles S Peterson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Thomas Agesen, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mountainside Hospital, Summit Overlook Hospital
Thomas Agesen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American College of Sports Medicine, and Physiatric Association for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Janos P Ertl, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chief of Orthopedic Trauma, University of California at Davis; Director of Amputee Clinic, Kaiser Hospital
Janos P Ertl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Hungarian Medical Association of America, Orthopaedic Trauma Association, and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gyorgy Kovacs, MD, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Consulting Surgeon, GOC Clinic
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Gerard A Malanga, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Jersey Medical School; Director of Pain Management, University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey, Overlook Hospital; Director of Sports Medicine, Mountainside Hospital
Gerard A Malanga, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American College of Sports Medicine, North American Spine Society, and Physiatric Association for Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Russell D White, MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Truman Medical Center Lakewood
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Jon B Whitehurst, MD, Clinical Instructor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Rockford Orthopedic Associates
Jon B Whitehurst, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and Arthroscopy Association of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Craig C Young, MD, Medical Director of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Fellowship Director, Professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery and Community and Family Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
Craig C Young is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Phi Beta Kappa, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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