Posterior cruciate ligament injuries in trauma patients

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the incidence of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries in trauma patients with acute hemarthrosis of the knee. Sixty-one acute knee injuries underwent examination under anesthesia and diagnostic arthroscopy at a tertiary care trauma center over an 11-month period. PCL injuries occurred in 44% (27 of 61) acute knee injuries; 81.5% (22 of 27) were trauma patients and 18.5% (five of 27) were sports related. Higher energy mechanisms of injury may account for the difference. Isolated PCL injuries were rare [7.5% (two of 27)], whereas 92.5% (25 of 27) of PCL injuries occurred in combination with other ligament injuries. Trauma patients have a higher incidence of PCL injuries than does the athletic population. Acute knee hemarthrosis in trauma patients should elevate suspicion for PCL injuries. Arthroscopy is a valuable tool for PCL evaluation and surgical planning.