Posterior cruciate ligament, posterolateral corner and multiligament knee injuries

Abstract

While injuries to the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the posterolateral corner are less common than those to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a missed diagnosis can have severe consequences for the patient. They are often injured in combination with each other or the ACL and without adequate assessment and management; a missed diagnosis can compromise any reconstruction surgery. The anatomy and management of the PCL has been well described for many years although the specifics of the surgical reconstruction are still debated such as inlay, single or double- bundle techniques. The anatomy and biomechanics of the posterolateral corner remain less well understood and the management options even more so. The key to managing both these injuries is a high index of suspicion, a thorough clinical assessment and appropriate imaging. It is also essential to remember the possibility of a dislocated knee that has spontaneously relocated, with a multiligament injury, which may have relatively benign initial clinical and radiographic findings considering its severity.