Rupture of Posterior Cruciate Ligament: Diagnosis and Treatment Principles

treatment methods of PCL injuries based on our experience and a review of the literature. Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosis 1) History of illness and mechanism of injuryThe most common mechanisms of PCL injuries include pretibial trauma, hyperfl exion, and hyperextension of the knee 4) .Fowler and Messieh 7) reported that, isolated PCL injuries were common in athletes and hyperflexion was the most frequent mechanism of injury.In most of the PCL injuries caused by hyperfl exion, the posteromedial bundle remains intact and only the anterolateral bundle is ruptured 7,8) .However PCL tears mostly occur in combination with other injuries.According to Fanelli and Edson 9) , about 95% of the PCL injuries in an emergency department setting were combined with other ligament injuries.Th e PCL can also be torn in a car accident because a posterior force is applied to the tibia when the knee in a flexed position hits the dashboard.This can be combined with posterolateral ligament injuries if the anteromedial aspect of the knee strikes the dashboard with a varus force applied 10) .2) Physical examination A careful vascular examination of the lower extremities is essential because a PCL injury can be accompanied by a popliteal artery injury.If the pulses are weak or the ankle-brachial index