title: The PCL line: an indirect sign of anterior cruciate ligament injury.
abstract: A new sign of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear based on secondary changes of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is described. Thirty-one patients with magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of the knee suspicious for ACL injury and 50 normal controls were examined. In each patient a line was drawn adjacent and parallel to the posterior margin of the distal portion of the PCL and was extended proximally. A positive PCL line did not intersect the medullary cavity of the femur. A positive line correctly predicted ACL injury in 19 of 22 patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cervilla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kursunoglu-Brahme
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Resnick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged