PCL Recontsruction

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in your knee is vital for joint stability and flexibility. If you damage your PCL, visit Austin Sports Medicine, whose experienced clinicians serve the community in and around Central and South Austin and Bee Cave, Cedar Park, and Pflugerville, Texas. They provide extensive, personalized care and excel at minimally invasive knee surgery to repair damaged ligaments. Call your nearest Austin Sports Medicine office or go online today to book an assessment and see if PCL reconstruction is right for you.

What is the PCL?

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is one of the major ligaments in your knee. It helps keep the shinbone (tibia) from sliding too far backward under the thighbone (femur). Common PCL injury symptoms include:

• Knee pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Weakness
• Balance problems
• Joint instability

You’ll likely experience a feeling that your knee is unstable or giving out when walking or going down stairs.

While not as prone to injury as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the PCL can tear due to a sudden blow to the front of the knee, like in a car accident or during sports. If the tear is severe or doesn’t heal properly, you might need surgery to reconstruct the ligament.

Austin Sports Medicine uses advanced tools to diagnose PCL injuries accurately and efficiently. Available onsite are Quantum© Digital Imaging System X-ray to check for fractures or joint alignment issues and open MRI, which provides detailed images of ligament and soft tissue damage.

These tools help the team decide whether a nonsurgical approach might work or if PCL reconstruction is the right next step.

What is PCL reconstruction surgery?

During PCL reconstruction, the Austin Sports Medicine surgeons replace your damaged PCL with new tissue called a graft. The graft may come from your own body (autograft), such as a piece of your hamstring tendon or from a donor (allograft).

The surgeon uses small incisions and a camera (arthroscope) to guide the instruments inside your knee. They remove the torn ligament and drill small tunnels in the femur and tibia and secure the graft in place with screws or other devices. 

The new ligament gradually becomes part of your body as it heals and strengthens.

What does PCL reconstruction recovery involve?

You’ll likely wear a knee brace, use crutches for a few weeks, and undergo a structured rehabilitation program based on physical therapy to restore strength, stability, and range of motion. Orthobiologics, like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), may boost the healing process.

With expert care and dedicated rehab, most people regain full knee function and go about their normal routines. Athletes can typically return to sports or high-impact activities in 6-9 months.

The Austin Sports Medicine team guides you every step of the way following PCL reconstruction so you can move forward confidently without pain holding you back. Call your nearest office to arrange a consultation or book online today.