title: Posterior cruciate ligament injuries in trauma patients.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the incidence of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries in trauma patients with acute hemarthrosis of the knee. Sixty-one acute knee injuries underwent examination under anesthesia and diagnostic arthroscopy at a tertiary care trauma center over an 11-month period. PCL injuries occurred in 44% (27 of 61) acute knee injuries; 81.5% (22 of 27) were trauma patients and 18.5% (five of 27) were sports related. Higher energy mechanisms of injury may account for the difference. Isolated PCL injuries were rare [7.5% (two of 27)], whereas 92.5% (25 of 27) of PCL injuries occurred in combination with other ligament injuries. Trauma patients have a higher incidence of PCL injuries than does the athletic population. Acute knee hemarthrosis in trauma patients should elevate suspicion for PCL injuries. Arthroscopy is a valuable tool for PCL evaluation and surgical planning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA 17822-2130.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fanelli
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006395:Hemarthrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000293:injuries*; D012421:Rupture