Arthroscopic PCL Reconstruction

About Arthroscopic PCL Reconstruction

Arthroscopic PCL reconstruction addresses a torn posterior cruciate ligament, a stronger and less commonly injured stabilizing ligament located behind the ACL that typically tears from a direct blow to the front of the shin, such as in a dashboard injury during a road accident, or from a hard fall onto a bent knee. Many partial PCL injuries are managed non-surgically with bracing and physiotherapy, but complete tears causing persistent instability, or those combined with other ligament injuries, usually require surgical reconstruction. The surgeon uses arthroscopic instruments and a camera inserted through small portals to remove the damaged ligament remnants and pass a tendon graft, often taken from the hamstring, patellar tendon, or a donor source, through bone tunnels in the femur and tibia, fixing it under controlled tension to restore knee stability. The operation generally takes two to three hours under regional or general anesthesia and is technically more demanding than ACL reconstruction due to the ligament's position and blood supply. Indian orthopedic and sports injury centers have experienced surgeons performing single- and double-bundle PCL reconstruction techniques. Recovery requires a longer, carefully staged rehabilitation program compared with ACL surgery, with bracing and gradual loading protocols to protect the healing graft.