Posterior cruciate ligament
The knee ligaments provide stability. They become frequently injured in sports due to rotation, hyperextension, sudden deceleration, or direct trauma. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of several types of ligaments. It is considered the primary restraint against posterior tibial translation.
What is the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)?
The PCL is the strongest ligament in the knee, primarily responsible for preventing the tibia from moving backwards. Although the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is more commonly injured, the PCL can also sustain injuries, especially from direct trauma to the tibia, which is common in road traffic accidents. The treatment approach depends on whether the injury is partial or complete and the extent of the damage.


Characteristics of the posterior cruciate ligament PCL
Characteristics of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) Isolated complete ruptures of this ligament are rare and usually occur alongside injuries to the posterolateral corner. In such cases, surgical reconstruction of both the PCL and the affected area is necessary. If the injury is partial, it can be treated with a special knee brace to correct tibial deviation and allow the ligament to heal.
Both conservative and surgical treatments may benefit from biological therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma or stem cells, to accelerate recovery, reduce pain, and shorten recovery times.
The Knee Unit at Instituto Cugat fits more than 300 knee prostheses a year.
Medical Team
Instituto Cugat boasts a team of professionals extensive experience in the pathology of this joint. Specialising in sports traumatology, they employ the most advanced surgical techniques to aid in the recovery of athletes.