Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Current Concepts Review

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Knee Biomechanics

Background:

• The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is crucial for knee stability.
• PCL injuries frequently occur with other knee injuries, complicating treatment.
• Understanding PCL anatomy and function is key for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review posterior cruciate ligament anatomy, biomechanics, and injury diagnosis.
• To discuss current treatment options for PCL injuries.
• To focus on arthroscopically assisted double-bundle PCL reconstruction (DB-PCLR).

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on PCL anatomy and biomechanics.
• Analysis of diagnostic methods, including stress radiography.
• Evaluation of surgical techniques, particularly single-bundle vs. double-bundle PCL reconstruction.

Main Results:

• Grade I or II PCL injuries are often managed non-operatively.
• Acute grade III PCL ruptures with associated injuries typically require surgical intervention.
• Double-bundle PCL reconstruction aims to restore native PCL function and knee kinematics more effectively than single-bundle techniques.

Conclusions:

• Anatomic double-bundle PCL reconstruction is a promising approach for restoring knee stability.
• DB-PCLR addresses limitations of single-bundle reconstruction, such as residual instability.
• Further research and clinical evaluation of DB-PCLR are warranted.