A ligament is a band of tissue that connects bone to bone. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is located inside your knee joint and connects the bones of your upper and lower leg.
A PCL injury occurs when the ligament is stretched or torn. A partial PCL tear occurs when only part of the ligament is torn. A complete PCL tear occurs when the entire ligament is torn into two pieces.
More About Your Injury
The PCL is one of several ligaments that help keep your knee stable. The PCL helps keep your leg bones in place and allows your knee to move back and forth. It is the strongest ligament in the knee. PCL tears often occur as a result of a severe knee injury.
Injuring the PCL takes a lot of force. It can occur if you:
- Get hit very hard on the front of your knee, such as hitting your knee on the dashboard during a car accident
- Fall hard on a bent knee
- Bend the knee too far backward (hyperflexion)
- Land the wrong way after jumping
PCL injuries commonly occur with other knee damage, including injuries to the nerves and blood vessels. Skiers and people who play basketball, football, or soccer are more likely to have this type of injury.