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Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Multimedia

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

Multimedia

A normal lateral radiograph of a knee. In a norma...Media file 1: A normal lateral radiograph of a knee. In a normal knee, a line drawn along the posterior femoral condyle will not intersect the posterior tibial condyle.
A normal lateral radiograph of a knee. In a norma...

A normal lateral radiograph of a knee. In a normal knee, a line drawn along the posterior femoral condyle will not intersect the posterior tibial condyle.

A lateral radiograph of a knee with a posterior c...Media file 2: A lateral radiograph of a knee with a posterior cruciate ligament injury. Note that the same line as in Image 1 will bisect the posterior tibial condyle due to a posterior sag and an incompetent posterior cruciate ligament.
A lateral radiograph of a knee with a posterior c...

A lateral radiograph of a knee with a posterior cruciate ligament injury. Note that the same line as in Image 1 will bisect the posterior tibial condyle due to a posterior sag and an incompetent posterior cruciate ligament.

The posterior tibia sag sign. The photo on the le...Media file 3: The posterior tibia sag sign. The photo on the left demonstrates the clinical finding of the posterior tibia sag sign. A line drawn parallel to the patella accentuates the posterior tibia sag. The photo on the right demonstrates the quadriceps active drawer test described by Daniels. With the knee in 70-90° of flexion, the extensor mechanism is contracted, pulling the tibia anteriorly into a reduced position.
The posterior tibia sag sign. The photo on the le...

The posterior tibia sag sign. The photo on the left demonstrates the clinical finding of the posterior tibia sag sign. A line drawn parallel to the patella accentuates the posterior tibia sag. The photo on the right demonstrates the quadriceps active drawer test described by Daniels. With the knee in 70-90° of flexion, the extensor mechanism is contracted, pulling the tibia anteriorly into a reduced position.

A close-up view of a posterior tibia sag with an ...Media file 4: A close-up view of a posterior tibia sag with an incompetent posterior cruciate ligament.
A close-up view of a posterior tibia sag with an ...

A close-up view of a posterior tibia sag with an incompetent posterior cruciate ligament.

This MRI of the knee shows a torn posterior cruci...Media file 5: This MRI of the knee shows a torn posterior cruciate ligament.
This MRI of the knee shows a torn posterior cruci...

This MRI of the knee shows a torn posterior cruciate ligament.

This MRI (coronal section) shows a posterior cruc...Media file 6: This MRI (coronal section) shows a posterior cruciate ligament tear.
This MRI (coronal section) shows a posterior cruc...

This MRI (coronal section) shows a posterior cruciate ligament tear.

This transverse MRI shows edema to the torn poste...Media file 7: This transverse MRI shows edema to the torn posterior cruciate ligament.
This transverse MRI shows edema to the torn poste...

This transverse MRI shows edema to the torn posterior cruciate ligament.

A view of the broad origin of the posterior cruci...Media file 8: A view of the broad origin of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) on the medial femoral condyle of a left knee. The anterior cruciate ligament has been removed for surgical reconstruction.
A view of the broad origin of the posterior cruci...

A view of the broad origin of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) on the medial femoral condyle of a left knee. The anterior cruciate ligament has been removed for surgical reconstruction.

An additional view of the posterior cruciate liga...Media file 9: An additional view of the posterior cruciate ligament broad origin and insertion in a knee pending anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
An additional view of the posterior cruciate liga...

An additional view of the posterior cruciate ligament broad origin and insertion in a knee pending anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

A right knee pending posterior cruciate ligament ...Media file 10: A right knee pending posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. A minimal notchplasty is completed. Two guide pins are advanced into the medial femoral condyle for tunnel placement to reconstruct the 2 bundles of the PCL.
A right knee pending posterior cruciate ligament ...

A right knee pending posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. A minimal notchplasty is completed. Two guide pins are advanced into the medial femoral condyle for tunnel placement to reconstruct the 2 bundles of the PCL.

The 2 tunnels are created by reaming from outside...Media file 11: The 2 tunnels are created by reaming from outside in; 8- to 9-mm tunnels are made depending on patient size and the graft that will be used.
The 2 tunnels are created by reaming from outside...

The 2 tunnels are created by reaming from outside in; 8- to 9-mm tunnels are made depending on patient size and the graft that will be used.

Two red Robinson catheters are advanced through t...Media file 12: Two red Robinson catheters are advanced through the femoral tunnels.
Two red Robinson catheters are advanced through t...

Two red Robinson catheters are advanced through the femoral tunnels.

The catheters have premade holes, which are used ...Media file 13: The catheters have premade holes, which are used for suture retrieval.
The catheters have premade holes, which are used ...

The catheters have premade holes, which are used for suture retrieval.

The catheters are advanced and threaded out the p...Media file 14: The catheters are advanced and threaded out the posterior knee. In this case, a posterior tibial onlay graft from an Achilles tendon allograft is used. The 2 bundles are secured to the catheters and advanced into the joint through the tunnels.
The catheters are advanced and threaded out the p...

The catheters are advanced and threaded out the posterior knee. In this case, a posterior tibial onlay graft from an Achilles tendon allograft is used. The 2 bundles are secured to the catheters and advanced into the joint through the tunnels.

The 2 Achilles tendon bundles are secured with a ...Media file 15: The 2 Achilles tendon bundles are secured with a baseball whipstitch and threaded through the catheter holes and advanced into the femoral condyle tunnels.
The 2 Achilles tendon bundles are secured with a ...

The 2 Achilles tendon bundles are secured with a baseball whipstitch and threaded through the catheter holes and advanced into the femoral condyle tunnels.

Additional view of the placement and advancement ...Media file 16: Additional view of the placement and advancement of the Achilles allograft.
Additional view of the placement and advancement ...

Additional view of the placement and advancement of the Achilles allograft.

Completion and seating of the femoral allograft r...Media file 17: Completion and seating of the femoral allograft reconstruction. The 2 bundles are secured or stabilized by suturing over a post and washer. Note the reestablishment of the broad surface area for the reconstructed posterior cruciate ligament origin.
Completion and seating of the femoral allograft r...

Completion and seating of the femoral allograft reconstruction. The 2 bundles are secured or stabilized by suturing over a post and washer. Note the reestablishment of the broad surface area for the reconstructed posterior cruciate ligament origin.

Completion of the tibial onlay two bundle Achille...Media file 18: Completion of the tibial onlay two bundle Achilles tendon allograft/posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. The bony calcaneus remnant is secured to the posterior tibia with 1 or 2 interfragmentary compression screws into a trough into the posterior tibia at the level of the PCL insertion. Care is taken to not penetrate the anterior tibial cortex with these screws. Note the intact original anterior cruciate ligament.
Completion of the tibial onlay two bundle Achille...

Completion of the tibial onlay two bundle Achilles tendon allograft/posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction. The bony calcaneus remnant is secured to the posterior tibia with 1 or 2 interfragmentary compression screws into a trough into the posterior tibia at the level of the PCL insertion. Care is taken to not penetrate the anterior tibial cortex with these screws. Note the intact original anterior cruciate ligament.

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

References

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Further Reading

Keywords

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

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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