Posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture

Case contributed by Jack Ren
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Pushbike vs car, Right knee swelling and pain.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male

Minimally displaced intra-articular fracture of the posterior tibia is associated with a large hemarthrosis. Fracture is at the expected site of the tibial insertion of the posterior cruciate ligament.

Comminuted mildly displaced fracture of the central posterior tibial plateau. Large lipo-hemarthrosis.

The posterior cruciate ligament inserted onto the fracture fragments (just visible on the sagittal bone windows.

In conclusion there is a comminuted avulsion fracture of the central posterior tibial plateau. MRI would better show the soft tissue structures.

Case Discussion

MRI was not performed in this case since there was no clinical concern regarding the other ligaments or menisci.

The fragment attached to the PCL was screwed to the tibia intraperatively and the patient placed in a hinged knee brace with followup radiographs until the fracture had healed.

How to use cases

You can use Radiopaedia cases in a variety of ways to help you learn and teach.

Creating your own cases is easy.

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.