The posterior cruciate ligament: a review

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) has acquired the attention given to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) 15 years ago. Although parallels can be drawn between the ACL and the PCL in general, PCL deficiency is generally more complex in its effect, evaluation, documentation, and treatment. While there has been a constant upgrading of the operative techniques, grafting tissue, and material, it is the correlation of anatomy and function that still lag behind. Conservative treatment, therefore, is the safe approach for a while but is not without limited function in many cases, leading to a decrease in activity level or preventing the patient from working. This article reviews PCL deficiency and presents our approach to this ligamentous deficiency.