PCL Injury !
A PCL injury is a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament inside the knee, often from hitting a car dashboard or falling onto a bent knee.
Updated 2026-10-23
Structures involved
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In the clinical exam
Why it happens
What it is
Tear of the posterior cruciate ligament, most often from a dashboard injury or fall onto a flexed knee.
Symptoms and signs
- Posterior knee pain
- Mild swelling
- Instability when descending stairs
Diagnosis
- Clinical
- Posterior drawer and sag tests
- Imaging
- MRI
Treatment
- Rehabilitation
- Most isolated PCL injuries are treated with physical therapy.
- Surgical
- Reconstruction for combined injuries or symptomatic grade 3 tears.
Related conditions
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Sources: Posterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injuries (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.
