Abstract

MARTINS, Gustavo et al. Lesões do ligamento cruzado posterior: Há lugar para o tratamento conservador?. Rev. Port. Ortop. Traum. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.4, pp.503-510. ISSN 1646-2122.

Objectives: to recognize the spontaneous healing process of a series of conservatively treated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries and evaluate the functionality outcomes of the treatment. Methods: a consecutive sample of fourteen patients, ten males and four females, were evaluated due to injuries that occurred between 2000 and 2010.The clinical evaluation was based upon criteria found in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Knee Ligament Standard Evaluation Form: patient subjective evaluation, symptoms, range of motion (flexion) and ligament examination. Shelbourne criteria was used to classify the original injury imagiologically. The evolution of the neo-ligament was studied with repeated MRI’s. Results: nine cases exhibited a firm endpoint with the posterior drawer test. All fourteen patients had a grade A in the range of motion and symptoms endpoints (IKDC). PCL healing was confirmed with sagittal and coronal T1 and T2 weighted MRIs after a mean time of seven months post injury in all fourteen cases. In two of the five cases with multiple ligament injury, additional anterior cruciate ligament surgery was necessary. Conclusion: these results suggest that after acute injury of the PCL, there is a high rate of PCL-like tissue formation which adopts the PCL’s original fixation points and permits sufficient stability and functionality to avoid surgical treatment.

Keywords : PCL; healing; conservative treatment.

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