PCL Injury Treatment in Chillicothe, OH
What are the Knee Ligaments?
The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of the four main ligaments within the knee that connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone). The other three are the medial collateral (MCL), lateral collateral (LCL) and anterior cruciate (ACL) ligaments. Your collateral ligaments are on the sides of your knee. They control sideways motion and brace your knee against unusual movement. Your cruciate ligaments are inside your knee. They control the back and forth motion of your knee.
Your posterior cruciate ligament is the strongest ligament in your knee. It is located in the back of the knee. It prevents the shinbone from slipping too far back. Injuries to the PCL are not as common as other knee ligament injuries.
Diagnosing Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
A PCL injury can generally be diagnosed through physical examination. Dr. Cohen or one of his sports medicine colleagues will obtain a complete “history of present illness” from you and conduct a focused, comprehensive physical exam to evaluate your knee for areas of tenderness, assess stability and range of motion and establish if you have normal or decreased strength. Depending on the findings they may order an X-ray and/or an MRI.
They may also order X-rays, an MRI or an ultrasound to rule out other injuries and show the full extent of the PCL injury.
PCL Injury Causes and Risk Factors
PCL injuries can be sports-related or happen during a trauma. A PCL can be injured when:
- Sudden force pushes your knee backward
- Your shin slams into something hard
- Your knee suddenly twists or overextends
- You fall and land on your bent knee while your foot points downward
Factors that increase the risk of a PCL injury include:
- Participating in sports like football, basketball, dancing, skiing and soccer
- Injury to other ligaments
- Doing manual labor
- Age (older patients are more prone to ligament injury because of wear and tear)
PCL Injury Symptoms
Symptoms of a PCL injury include:
- Pain and swelling
- Difficulty walking
- A feeling of instability in the knee
- Stiffness in the knee
Why Choose Dr. Cohen?
OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
One of the first orthopedic surgeons employed by a large hospital. Dr. Cohen spent 20 years.
TRUSTED BY OVER 100,000+ PATIENTS WORLDWIDE
Over his distinguished career, Dr. Cohen has cultivated a reputation of excellence and trust among his patients and his peers.
UTILIZING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY
To achieve the best surgical outcomes, Dr. Cohen utilizes the most advanced technologies and techniques, keeping his practice state of the art.
PATIENT SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY
An individualized, patient-focused process coupled with decades of training and experience help ensure maximum safety for all of Dr. Cohen’s patients.
PCL Treatment Options
In some cases, a PCL injury may be treated without surgery. Nonsurgical treatment options include the RICE method (rest, ice, compression and elevation), bracing and physical therapy.
PCL Surgery and Rehabilitation
Surgery is usually advisable when a patient has multiple injuries, such as when there is other torn ligaments. Recommended surgery for a torn PCL is generally ligament reconstruction, which involves replacing the torn ligament with a tissue graft taken from another part of the body (autograft) or from a human cadaver (allograft). Ligament reconstruction surgery is typically done as an arthroscopic-assisted procedure, which is to say through a minimally-invasive surgery.
Active patient participation in rehabilitation after surgery is important to the success of a PCL surgery. Dr. Cohen and his team are careful to monitor a patient’s health and activity levels both before and after the surgery to reduce the risk of complications. Dr. Cohen utilizes the latest in technology to do this. He has partnered with Prescribe FIT to optimize his patients preoperatively and empower his patients with a simple and effective way to lower their risk of complications from surgery. In addition, he utilizes the Recupe sensor from Plethy to monitor compliance with home exercise programs and range of motion recovery.
Schedule Your Consultation
If you think you may have a PCL injury, schedule your personal consultation with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Cohen. Dr. Cohen is a well-trained surgeon who has treated over 100,000 patients worldwide and offers a customized approach to your orthopedic care. He has extensive experience with PCL injuries. Call or email his office today.
