What is the Best Knee Brace for a Torn PCL?

If you tear your PCL, your doctor will likely prescribe a knee brace as part of your recovery. 

It is going to be important that you understand your PCL injury so that you can work with your doctor to get the best knee brace for you.

So today on the blog, we will describe PCL injuries, how they happen, and treatment options, including knee braces.

What is the PCL?

PCL stands for posterior cruciate ligament. It is a ligament located deep inside the knee joint, behind the ACL, that connects the femur to the tibia. Its role is to stabilize the knee joint from posterior translation of the tibia on the femur.

What causes a PCL injury? 

The most common cause of injury to the PCL is direct force to the front of the knee when the knee is bent. For older adults, this could happen when falling forward onto a bent knee. This could also happen during a car accident. Specifically referred to as dashboard injuries, these PCL injuries occur when the knee is forced into the dashboard during an oncoming car crash.

PCL injuries are less common than ACL injuries. They usually occur in the setting of multi-ligament knee injuries, and rarely occur in isolation.

What are the symptoms of a PCL injury?

Pain and swelling are the most common symptoms. Sometimes there will be bruising behind or below the knee. Depending on the severity, your knee may also feel unstable (feeling of your knee joint being loose or giving way).

When do you need a knee brace for a PCL injury? 

You may need a knee brace for your PCL injury for the following reasons:

Increase Stability and Decrease Pain and Swelling

Instability, pain, and swelling are common symptoms of a PCL injury. A knee brace can provide stability and comfort to your knee joint while you recover from the PCL injury. An example of a knee brace that provides stability and comfort during recovery of a mild PCL tear is the DonJoy Playmaker II Knee Brace.

Prevention of Re-Injury

After your first PCL injury, there is a high risk of re-injury. Therefore, it is important to participate in rehab and exercise that strengthen and stabilize the knee joint. A brace can support your exercise program by protecting the knee during athletic or physical activities. An example of a knee brace for support and prevention of a second PCL injury is the Aspen ROM Knee Brace. 

Post-Surgical Recovery

Sometimes PCL injuries will need surgical intervention. Surgery may be indicated for Grade III tears (complete tears), chronic recurring tears, or when other ligaments or structures in the knee joint are also injured. Braces will likely be prescribed to aid in the post-surgical recovery. Examples of post-surgical knee braces for PCL injuries include the DonJoy X-ACT ROM Knee Brace for early post-surgery and the CK-205 Post-Op Transition Knee Brace for later in the recovery process. 

Elite Medical Supply can help you find the right knee brace for your PCL injury. Contact us if you have any questions about our available knee braces. 

References 

Raj MA, Mabrouk A, Varacallo M. Posterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injuries. [Updated 2022 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430726/.