@article{ref1,
title="Epidemiology of posterior cruciate ligament injuries",
journal="Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery",
year="2003",
author="Schulz, M. S. and Russe, K. and Weiler, A. and Eichhorn, H. J. and Strobel, M. J.",
volume="123",
number="4",
pages="186-191",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries has not been well clarified. Isolated and combined PCL injuries are a frequently missed diagnosis. A better understanding of typical injury mechanisms may help in more accurate diagnosis of these injuries. METHODS: In this study the epidemiology of PCL insufficiency in 494 patients was retrospectively analysed. Stress-radiography was used to quantify posterior tibial displacement. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of injury was 27.5+/-9.9 years. Traffic accidents (45%) and athletic injuries (40%) were the most common injury causes. Motorcycle accidents (28%) and soccer-related injuries (25%) accounted for the main specific injury causes. The most common injury mechanisms were dashboard injuries (35%) and falls on the flexed knee with the foot in plantar flexion (24%). The mean side-to-side difference of posterior tibial displacement on posterior stress-radiographs in 90 degrees of flexion was 13.4+/-4.7 mm. According to the posterior displacement values, 232 (47%) patients had isolated PCL ruptures, while 262 (53%) patients with a posterior displacement of >12 mm were classified as having a combined posterior instability. There were significantly more combined PCL lesions due to vehicular trauma as compared with athletic trauma ( p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In many PCL lesions, initiation of an adequate treatment regimen is delayed despite typical injury mechanisms and symptoms. In the future, a better understanding of the epidemiology of PCL injuries should enable us to diagnose the injury more reliably through a detailed history and a thorough physical and radiographic examination in the acute setting.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0936-8051",
doi="10.1007/s00402-002-0471-y",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00402-002-0471-y"
}