The Nonoperative Treatment of Acute, Isolated (Partial or Complete) Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees: An Intermediate-term Follow-up Study

Fifty-seven consecutive patients (58 knees) with an acute, isolated, posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury were treated nonoperatively. Clinical, radiographic, and functional assessment was performed at a mean follow-up of 6.9 years (range 2 to 19.3 years) after the initial diagnosis. At the time of initial documentation of the injury, the posterior drawer test was grade A in 17 knees and grade B in 41 knees. The mean preinjury Tegner activity level was 7 (range 4 to 10). At latest follow-up, 38 knees had no pain, 14 had mild pain, and 6 had moderate pain on exertion. Fifty-four knees had no swelling, 3 had mild, intermittent swelling, and 1 had a moderate swelling on exertion. The posterior drawer test was grade A in 14 knees and grade B in 44 knees. The mean Lysholm-II knee score was 85.2 points (range 51 to 100 points) and the mean Tegner activity level was 6.6 (range 3 to 10). Based on Lysholm-II knee scoring system, the results were excellent in 23 knees (40%), good in 30 knees (52%), fair in 2 knees (3%), and poor in 3 knees (5%). No statistically significant correlation (p = 0.097) was seen between the grade of PCL laxity and Lysholm-II knee score. Plain radiographs showed mild (grade I) medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) in 7 knees, and moderate (grade II) medial compartment OA in 3 knees. Mild patellofemoral OA was seen in 4 knees. We believe that most patients with acute, isolated PCL injuries do well with nonoperative treatment at a mean follow-up of 6.9 years. The level of evidence for this retrospective cohort study is level III.