Posterior Cruciate Ligament or PCL is one of the important ligaments of the knee. A damaged PCL can make the knee joint unstable. PCL surgery is carried out to treat torn PCL or multiple torn ligaments, and unstable knee joint, when medicines and physical therapy do not work. Repair of Posterior cruciate ligament is generally not successful so it should be replaced with a new tissue graft.

In the PCL surgery an small incision is made and arthroscope (similar to an endoscope, has a camera and light source in it) is inserted to analyze the damaged PCL, then other incisions are made to insert instruments to replace the damaged PCL with a new tissue graft which is taken either from the body of the patient himself or from a deceased donor. The tissue graft is then attached to surrounding bone with staples to keep in position and then the incisions are sewn back.

Now with the use of arthroscope, PCL surgery can be performed by minimal invasive technique i.e. as oppose to open surgery small incisions are made and patient feels less pain, also recovery of the patient after the surgery is quicker.

After the surgery crutches can be used for next 2-3 days after the surgery. Most of the patients can start walking in 2 weeks and can start running in 6weeks. These activities should be performed gradually and over exercise should not be done. An important aspect is rehabilitation program which can run for 6 to 12 months.