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Wickham Orthopaedics

Knee Conditions

PCL tears

Focused information to help you understand this topic and the next steps.

PCL tears

The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, prevents the shin bone moving too far backwards. It is usually injured by a force to the front of a bent knee, such as a dashboard injury or a fall onto the knee during sport.

Many isolated PCL injuries can be treated successfully with a brace and physiotherapy. A complete tear causing ongoing instability, especially when other ligaments are also damaged, may require reconstruction. Acute accidental injuries may qualify for ACC support.