ACL vs PCL Injuries: A Comparison
ACL vs PCL Injuries: A Comparison – There has been a lot of focus on knee injuries lately. While a lot of this focus has been due to the injuries that professional athletes suffer while playing sports, knee injuries can also happen in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip and fall accidents. A knee injury could inhibit an individual’s ability to walk, run, and engage in activities that they enjoy. One of the most severe injuries that someone could sustain is an ACL tear. According to a recent study on ACL tears:
- A team of researchers followed nearly a thousand individuals who had suffered an ACL tear and subsequently had the tear repaired.
- The average age of people who suffered a tear was 23.
- Close to one out of every five individuals required an additional ACL repair surgery within six years of their first repair.
- 10 percent of these individuals required surgery on the other knee.
- Individuals who had their tear repaired with a cadaver ligament instead of tissue from their own body were more likely to re-tear their new ACL.
While ACL tears receive all of the attention, there are other knee injuries that someone could sustain as well. One of these is a PCL tear.
ACL vs. PCL: Role in the Body
The ACL stands for the Anterior Cruciate Ligament while the PCL stands for the Posterior Cruciate Ligament. They serve two distinct roles in the body.
- The ACL rests at the front of the knee. Its role is to prevent the knee from sliding too far forward over the tibia and fibula. If the knee tries to slide too far forward, the ACL catches the knee and stops this action.
- In contrast, the PCL is at the back of the knee. It serves the exact opposite purpose. Its role is to prevent the knee from sliding too far back over the tibia and fibula. If the knee slides backward, the PCL will catch the knee and stop this from happening.
These are only two of the many different ligaments that help to stabilize the knee. Some of the others include the LCL, MCL, and meniscus. If these ligaments are torn, the knee becomes unstable, and people can have significant mobility issues.
ACL vs. PCL Tear: Mechanisms of Injury
The ACL and PCL can be torn in any number of different ways; however, there are two common mechanisms. The ACL is typically torn when the knee catches and twists on top of the tibia and fibula. This stresses the ACL to the point of tearing. This can happen while playing sports, falling from a bike, or even in a motorcycle accident. In contrast, the PCL is often torn in a rear-end auto accident. When an accident occurs, the knee can strike the dashboard, forcing it back over the tibia and fibula. This can tear the PCL and is often termed a “dashboard knee.” Both of these injuries typically require surgery to repair.
Watch YouTube Video: ACL and PCL – What Causes Cruciate Ligament Injuries? This video explains how injuries can happen in the cruciate ligaments of the knee joint.
Contact a Lawyer
When someone suffers a knee injury, numerous complications could result following a tear. Some of these include:
- The inability to work or go to school due to mobility problems.
- Issues surrounding coverage of the surgery by health insurance.
- Completing a thorough investigation of the injury’s circumstances.
- Potential medical issues with the repair.
It is important for families to meet with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Make sure that the accident has been reviewed thoroughly. You and your family might be entitled to financial compensation.
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Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Tears of the ligaments in the knees will lead to a long recovery process. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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ACL vs PCL Injuries: A Comparison: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ACL vs PCL Injuries: A Comparison.
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