What is a PCL reconstruction?
During a surgical posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, your doctor removes the torn ligament. They reconstruct it with tissue taken from another part of your body or from a human donor. It can take several months for the graft to heal. The PCL is one of the four major ligaments in your knee.
What graft is used for PCL reconstruction?
autograft
Graft options for PCL reconstruction generally entail autograft or allograft tissues. Autograft choices include bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) graft, hamstrings, and quadriceps tendons.
How is PCL reconstruction done?
Most PCL reconstruction is performed using knee arthroscopy. In this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions around the knee joint and inserts a narrow fiber optic scope (called an arthroscope) to examine the condition of the knee.
How long is PCL reconstruction surgery?
Four incisions approximately 5mm-20mm in length, are made around the knee to place the camera and surgical instruments into the joint, harvest the graft and pass it into the knee. PCL reconstruction usually takes between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the operation.
Is a PCL tear serious?
A PCL injury can cause mild, moderate or severe damage.
Does PCL need surgery?
There are both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) knee injuries. Surgery is typically only recommended for the most severe tears and for people who have multiple ligament injuries.
How much does a PCL surgery cost?
How Much Does a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Repair or Reconstruction Cost? On MDsave, the cost of a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Repair or Reconstruction ranges from $10,713 to $24,149.
Are PCL tears painful?
Generally, yes. Pain is one of the leading symptoms of a torn PCL. Discomfort may be mild or severe.
What is a Grade 2 PCL tear?
Grade II (moderate) – The PCL is partially torn, and the knee is somewhat unstable, meaning it gives out periodically when you stand, walk or have diagnostic tests. Grade III (severe) – The PCL is either completely torn or is separated at its end from the bone that it normally anchors, and the knee is more unstable.
How painful is PCL surgery?
Here is what you can expect and how you can cope during the first days after PCL reconstruction surgery: You will likely feel pain or discomfort for the first few days. Take pain medications as your doctor advises. These could be over-the-counter painkillers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or stronger narcotic drugs.
Which MRI findings are characteristic of a PCL injury?
MRI readily delineates injuries of bone, other ligaments, menisci, cartilage, capsule, tendons, and vascular structures. Indirect signs of PCL injury include bone bruises of the anterior tibia and posterior femoral condyles, indicating forced posterior displacement of the tibia with the knee flexed.
What’s new in orthopaedic surgery for PCL injuries?
Recent advancements in the understanding of PCL function and the improved detection of PCL and coexisting injuries afforded by MRI have improved the orthopaedic surgeon’s ability to address the biomechanical deficits resulting from PCL injuries. 4
What are the features of posterior ligament tears (PCL)?
Features of posterior ligament tears include 1,2 : enlarged and swollen PCL: >7 mm AP diameter of the vertical portion on sagittal imaging is indicative of a tear PCL tears may result in chronic instability and early degenerative change 2 .
What is the prevalence of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries?
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries account for up to 23% of all knee ligament injuries in the general population and are most commonly seen as a result of motor vehicle accidents and sports-related injuries.