Knee Care

Wisconsin Bone & Joint knee care experts offer comprehensive
services to individuals with a wide range of knee pain issues.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

Knee Specialists At Wisconsin Bone & Joint

The physicians at Wisconsin Bone & Joint utilize cutting-edge technology to assess, diagnose and work with patients to develop innovative treatment plans for a variety of knee conditions and injuries. Our team of physicians are committed to providing you with the best treatment options to alleviate your knee pain.

Providing trusted Orthopedic care in the community for over 40+ years

At Wisconsin Bone and Joint, we pride ourselves with providing you highly personalized and comprehensive orthopedic care. Our philosophy of direct physician-to-patient care means your physician will be an intrical part of every stage of your care. This commitment to a dedicated continuum-of-care model has made us one of the most trusted and respected practices in Southeast Wisconsin and greater Milwaukee area.

PCL Reconstruction

What Is A PCL Reconstruction?

Normally, all of the parts of the knee joint work together and the joint moves easily and without pain. However, disease or injury can disturb the normal functioning of a joint, which can result in knee pain, muscle weakness, and limited movement.

The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is one of the main ligaments in the knee and injury to this ligament may be seen in a variety of settings. In general, most partial or isolated PCL tears can be treated non-operatively because the PCL, with its synovial covering, has some ability to heal. However, surgical reconstruction is often recommended for PCL tears that occur in combination with other ligament tears of the knee.

The posterior cruciate ligament is the strongest ligament of the knee. While the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL is injured more often than the PCL and is more commonly discussed, PCL injuries account for more than 20% of reported knee injuries.

PCL injuries are classified according to the amount of injury to the functional ligament:

Grade I: partial PCL tear
Grade II: near complete PCL tear
Grade III: a complete PCL tear – the ligament is non-functional

PCL reconstruction on injuries that present themselves as a grade III may be needed. In a higher level athlete, it may be recommended to proceed with a PCL reconstruction sooner because the results of acute reconstructions are much better than chronic reconstructions.

Procedure

Severe PCL laxity, which results in a knee with significant posterior translation is quite unsettling to the patient, especially athletes due to the shifting of the tibia during running. These patients benefit from a PCL reconstruction, which re-establishes stability to the knee.

As noted in the treatment of ACL injuries, the ruptured ligament cannot be repaired. It must be reconstructed using a graft. This can be from the injuried patients own body or from a donor. The graft is attached through drill holes in the tibia and femur, using arthroscopic techniques, to reestablish the posterior cruciate attachment.

 Recovery

This is an outpatient procedure allowing the patient to walk with crutches and a brace in their home. Return to sports is restricted for 10 to 12 months, allowing the knee to rebuild strength and function.

Our team is here for you

When conservative care and treatment is appropriate, we offer the best, least invasive, least aggressive treatment options to relieve your pain and discomfort. When an injury is more serious and conservative care is not an option, our orthopedic surgeons provide the latest in innovative surgical interventions available with the goal of getting you back to the life you love. Wisconsin Bone & Joint physicians offer orthopedic services at three convenient locations in Mayfair, Glendale and Cedarburg.