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What is a posterolateral corner repair?
Posterolateral corner reconstruction is the surgical repair of a significant injury to the posterolateral corner of the knee. PLC tears are most often sustained from an acute injury. For example, a blow to the inner or medial knee while playing football or during a motor vehicle accident can cause a tear of the PLC.
How long does a posterolateral corner injury take to heal?
Grade I and II injuries can do well without surgery. They can be treated with crutches and a hinged knee brace for 4 to 6 weeks followed by physical therapy. With a grade III injury, the PLC structures are too damaged to heal on their own. This injury will require surgery.
Where is the posterolateral corner of knee?
The posterolateral corner is a complex area of tendons and ligaments around the outside of the knee. Like a Spaghetti Junction of the body, the PLC is a ‘meeting point’ for the fibular collateral ligament, the popliteofibular ligament, the popliteus tendon, the biceps femoris tendon, the iliotobial band and more.
What makes up the posterolateral corner of the knee?
Specific components of the posterolateral corner that can be identified on MRI, albeit with some variability, are the biceps femoris tendon, the fibular collateral ligament, the popliteus musculotendinous complex including the popliteofibular ligament, the fabellofibular ligament, and the arcuate ligament.
What are the posterolateral corner structures?
Structures found in the posterolateral corner include the tibia, fibula, lateral femur, iliotibial band (IT band), the long and short heads of the biceps femoris tendon, the fibular (lateral) collateral ligament (FCL), the popliteus tendon, the popliteofibular ligament, the lateral gastrocnemius tendon, and the …
What does a posterolateral corner injury feel like?
Injuries to the posterolateral corner are associated with widespread pain, tenderness and swelling in the fibular head and posterolateral area of the knee. These injuries can also cause knee instability, a change in gait, and hyperextension and varus thrust during during walking.
What causes posterolateral corner injury?
Summary. The posterolateral corner (PLC) is made up of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the back of the knee. An injury to the structures in this region—usually sustained during contact sports or trauma such as a car accident—can cause significant pain and impair mobility.
What is posterior drawer?
The posterior drawer test is performed with the knee flexed to approximately 80°-90°. For this test, it is essential for the knee to be relaxed in order to truly assess the amount of increase in motion that may be present. I usually do this by palpating the hamstring tendons to make sure they are relaxed.
What does a positive posterior drawer test mean?
If the tibia pulls forward or backward more than normal, the test is considered positive. Excessive displacement of the tibia anteriorly suggests that the anterior cruciate ligament is injured, whereas excessive posterior displacement of the tibia may indicate injury of the posterior cruciate ligament.
What is considered a positive with the posterior drawer test?
Positive: absence of an end-feel and the proximal tibia falls back (excessive translation). The amount of posterior movement determines the grade of PCL tear.
What does a negative posterior drawer test mean?
Results. Negative: noticeable end-feel and minimal movement. Positive: absence of an end-feel and the proximal tibia falls back (excessive translation). The amount of posterior movement determines the grade of PCL tear.
What are the symptoms of a posterior cruciate ligament injury?
The typical symptoms of a posterior cruciate ligament injury are:
- Pain with swelling that occurs steadily and quickly after the injury.
- Swelling that makes the knee stiff and may cause a limp.
- Difficulty walking.
- The knee feels unstable, like it may “give out”
How do you treat posterior cruciate ligament injury?
Nonsurgical Treatment If you have injured only your posterior cruciate ligament, your injury may heal quite well without surgery. Your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment options: RICE. When you are first injured, the RICE method — rest, ice, gentle compression, and elevation — can help speed your recovery.
Does posterior cruciate ligament need surgery?
There are both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) knee injuries. Surgery is typically only recommended for the most severe tears and for people who have multiple ligament injuries.
Can you tear your posterior cruciate ligament?
Although it is larger and stronger than the ACL, the PCL can be torn. PCL tears make up less than 20% of injuries to knee ligaments. Injuries that tear the PCL often damage some of the other ligaments or cartilage in the knee, as well. In some cases, the ligament can also break loose a piece of underlying bone.
Is posterolateral corner reconstruction an effective treatment for knee injuries?
Abstract Posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstruction has been shown to be an effective treatment for PLC injuries. Acute anatomical repair of the PLC has the same potential to stabilize the knee; however, outcomes are less defined. Surgical repair minimizes graft harvest morbidity and allows for the maintenance of native tissue proprioception.
What is a posterolateral corner injury?
Summary Posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries are traumatic knee injuries that are associated with lateral knee instability and usually present with a concomitant cruciate ligament injury (PCL > ACL). Diagnosis can be suspected with a knee effusion and a positive dial test but MRI studies are required for confirmation.
What is the posterolateral corner of the knee?
The posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee was once referred to as the dark side of the knee due to the limited understanding of the structures, biomechanics and possible treatment options. A number of studies in recent years have led to a heightened understanding of the PLC, and biomechanically validated reconstruction techniques.
What is the best treatment for posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries?
Posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstruction has been shown to be an effective treatment for PLC injuries. Acute anatomical repair of the PLC has the same potential to stabilize the knee; however, outcomes are less defined. Surgical repair minimizes graft harvest morbidity and allows for the maintenance of native tissue proprioception.