PCL Injury in Under 3 Minutes: NPTE Breakdown

PCL Injury — NPTE Cheat SheetWhat it is:Injury to the posterior cruciate ligament from excessive posterior translation of the tibia — often from dashboard impact or falling on a flexed knee.Classic signs:Posterior sag signPosterior knee painDifficulty descending stairsInstability (less dramatic than ACL)Dashboard injury mechanismRule-in test:Posterior Drawer Test (NPTE’s favorite)Rule-out clues:Immediate swelling → ACLLocking/catching → MeniscusMedial tenderness → MCLNPTE trap:“Dashboard injury” = PCL. Never ignore it.Best treatment:ROM, quad strength, avoid early hamstring loading.Mock question included: Yes.Lock down PCL injuries in under 3 minutes. Hit follow for more NPTE wins.