Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury occurs when one of the ligaments on the inside of the knee is overstretched. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is a thick band of tissue deep inside the knee that connects the thighbone to the shinbone.
The PCL prevents the shinbone from sliding too far backward under the thighbone. Any force that pushes the shinbone backward under the thighbone can cause a PCL injury. The PCL may be stretched, partially torn, or completely torn.
Knee injuries that tear the PCL often damage other ligaments or cartilage in the knee. A PCL injury can also break a piece of bone loose within the knee. PCL injuries can occur quickly—with a blunt force injury to the knee—or slowly, as the ligament is stressed over time.
With an injured PCL, you may experience:
