Can a PCL heal without surgery?

Can a PCL heal without surgery?

While not as common as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, PCL, or posterior cruciate ligament, injuries do occur and can cause some serious issues with your knee if not addressed adequately.

Can most PCL injuries heal on their own without surgery?

PCL injuries are usually partial ligament tears, and typically heal on their own, without causing stability issues, so long as the knee is protected during healing, and there are no other knee joint injuries.

How long does PCL rehab take?

Recovery time can vary from person to person. If your injury is mild, it may only take about 10 days to heal. If you’ve had surgery to repair your PCL, recovery could take about six to nine months.

What is PCL protocol?

Physical Therapy. PCL Reconstruction Protocol. The intent of this protocol is to provide the clinician with a guideline for the post- operative rehabilitation course of a patient that has undergone a PCL or PCL/ACL reconstruction.

How do you rehab a PCL?

Knee flexion with heel slide

  1. Lie on your back with your knees bent.
  2. Slide your heel back by bending your affected knee as far as you can. Then hook your other foot around your ankle to help pull your heel even farther back.
  3. Hold for about 6 seconds, then rest for up to 10 seconds.
  4. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

How do you rehab a torn PCL?

Quad sets

  1. Sit with your affected leg straight and supported on the floor or a firm bed. Place a small, rolled-up towel under your knee.
  2. Tighten the thigh muscles of your affected leg by pressing the back of your knee down into the towel.
  3. Hold for about 6 seconds, then rest for up to 10 seconds.
  4. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

Does a grade 3 PCL tear require surgery?

Grade 3 PCL injuries: At this Grade surgical reconstruction is recommended. If the PCL has been pulled and detached from its anchor point, it can be reattached with a screw. If the PCL has been torn completely it can be reconstructed using a piece of your own tissue (autograft) or a piece of donor tissue (allograft).

How do you rehab a PCL injury?

How long does a grade 3 PCL tear take to heal?

Recovery. Expected recovery usually occurs in about three months at which time swelling may be resolved and strength recovered. A full return to active sports is usually possible. If PCL reconstruction is needed, full recovery may take 9-12 months.

How long do you wear PCL brace?

Locking Knee Brace – The brace is to be worn for up to 4-6 weeks following surgery. It will be locked straight until bone healing and good knee strength have been achieved (usually 5-6 weeks after surgery). At that time your doctor will determine if your leg has enough strength to allow your brace to be unlocked.

What should you avoid with a PCL injury?

Hyperextension of the knee and posterior tibial translation should be avoided during this initial phase. Immediately after injury, it is common to have swelling, generalized knee pain, and loss of motion.

How can I speed up my PCL recovery?

The duration for a PCL injury also depends on the severity of the sprain, but typically full recovery is achieved between 4 to 12 months….Treatment

  1. Rest the joint to prevent further injury.
  2. Ice the injured area to reduce swelling.
  3. Compress the joint with an elastic bandage.
  4. Elevate the leg when at rest.

Can you exercise with a PCL tear?

A PCL sprain is a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament. Our PCL sprain rehabilitation exercises include mobility, stretching and strengthening exercises. The following guidelines for rehabilitation of a posterior cruciate ligament injury are for information purposes only.

  • August 12, 2022