Posterior cruciate ligament rupture : state of the art

Abstract

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) ruptures can cause severe knee instability and disability and thus, appropriate management is crucial for the successful restoration of patients' knee function. Rupture of the PCL can occur during sporting activity but more often, as a part of high-energy trauma. The diagnosis can be made using various clinical tests, such as the posterior drawer test or the quadriceps active test. MRI is the gold standard in imaging. PCL injuries can be classified from grade I to grade III, with increasing severity. Treatment can be conservative or surgical and should be personalized based on patients' demographic characteristics, grade of injury, level of instability, associated injuries and activity levels.