Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and Other Ligaments of the Knee

Management of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries remains challenging, even to the most experienced orthopaedic surgeon. There is currently no uniformly accepted surgical technique that has been identified to reproducibly restore the normal anatomy and biomechanics of the knee, while protecting the articular surface from premature arthritic change. A thorough knowledge of the functional anatomy of the PCL and associated ligamentous structures is essential for the accurate diagnosis and management of these injuries. In addition, numerous biomechanical studies exist to help us sort through both the injury mechanics as well as various reconstructive techniques available for both isolated and combined PCL reconstruction.

Keywords: posterior cruciate, knee, ligaments, reconstruction, biomechanics