We hear so much about ACL injuries and their surgeries, but injuries to the PCL occur in sports as well. In this Ask Dr. Geier video, I discuss PCL injuries and whether an athlete needs to have surgery for a torn PCL.

Danielle asks:
3 months ago, I ruptured my PCL, suffered a mild sprain to the ACL and a complete grade 3 tear to my MCL. My MCL is healing well! The orthopedic doctor told me I would be fine without having my PCL reconstructed. I’m very active. I’m not sure if his advice is best for my future!

The PCL is the ligament just behind the ACL. PCL injuries occur much less often than ACL injuries, but an athlete can injure it with a blow to the front of the tibia just below the knee or landing directly on the knee.

Very often, a patient with an isolated PCL injury, meaning that the PCL is the only ligament injured, can do well with rehab and avoid surgery. In this video, I discuss situations when an athlete with a torn PCL might need PCL reconstruction or repair and what surgery entails.

MRI showing torn PCL of the knee
This image of the knee seen on MRI shows a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament (yellow arrow).

Also read:
Ask Dr. Geier – PCL injuries
Ask Dr. Geier – Should an older athlete undergo ACL surgery?

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