ACL and PCL pathophysiology

ACL Tears

-1) rotation of the knee while foot is planted followed by a force that drives the tibia anteriorly and the femor posteriorly, or (2) hyperextension

-Isolated ACL injury is uncommon Trauma to the PCL may provide a false positive for ACL injury

-Usually injury results from non-contact sport activity in which an athlete cuts or pivots quickly (ie. soccer)

- Predisposing factors to ACL injury may include: ACL size, joint laxity, muscular and athletic skill coordination, body motions, limb alignment, and menstrual cycle (increased laxity with estrogen and progesterone surges during the luteal phase)

-Females experience ACL sprains at higher rate than men



PCL Tears

-Pcl lig are stronger then Acl ligs

-Mode of injury is often due to posterior force to tibia

-Eg. Smashing your tibia into the dashboard during an accident

-Also a result of hyperextension



Other Fact that might not change your life but might help^_^

-The tensile strength streagth and the load it can bear of the PCL is greater than that of the ACL

-ACL is involved in 85% of anterior translation of the tibia

-PCL is fully involved in the posterior translation of the tibia

-Once injured the sub laxity of the ACL ligament make the joint more prone to injury