PCL Vs. ACL: Understanding the Differences
- Posted on: Nov 15 2017
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Even though you may not know the difference between your PCL and your ACL, one thing’s for certain: you are in pain, and you need surgery to fix it. Here at Redwood Orthopaedic Associates, we perform both PCL and ACL surgeries to help patients get back their range of motion, play sports again, and be able to put pressure on their knees without yelping out in pain. To help you gain a better understanding of the differences of these ligaments, let’s take a closer look.
What is My PCL?
Ligaments are bands of tissues that connect your bones, and your body is composed of hundreds of different ligaments that each serve their purpose. Your knee is made up of four ligaments, including the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), which is a large, strong ligament located in the center of the knee.
Making up 20% of all knee injuries, a PCL tear can be caused by a variety of things, including an automobile accident or a sports injury. In many cases, when a patient injures their PCL, other surrounding tissues are also damaged, which may lengthen the recovery process after surgery.
What is My ACL?
Your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a joint that runs diagonally in the middle of the knee and helps to provide stability to the knee to prevent the tibia from sliding into the femur. As the most common type of knee injury, an ACL tear is almost always sports related or induced. Several studies point to the fact that female athletes are more prone to this type of tear than their male athlete counterparts.
Understanding some of the basics between PCL and ACL tears can help you feel more informed about your injury. If you believe you have a PCL or ACL injury in Santa Rosa CA and surrounding areas, contact us at (707) 544-3400 or fill out our online contact form here to schedule a consultation.
Posted in: Knee Injury
