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Posterior cruciate ligament tear

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Fall from height, landed on knee. Now swollen and painful.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Male

Mid-segment PCL tear is noted.

Case Discussion

A PCL injury is usually due to hyperextension of the knee. This is a typical case with only partial disruption to ligament fibers (unlike the ACL that usually ruptures completely) as well as an anterior impaction pattern of bone marrow edema (microtrabecular fracture) i.e. the medial femoral condyle has been impacted onto the anterior aspect of the medial tibial plateau.

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