Isolated posterior cruciate ligament injury in a child: literature review and a case report.

The authors describe the sixth reported case of a child with a truly isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury and the first in which the deficiency was not repaired immediately. Review of this case emphasizes a number of points: the need for awareness of PCL injuries in children; the inability of x-ray films to detect cartilaginous avulsions in such circumstances; and the fact that missed PCL avulsions can cause locking and may also result in abnormal ligament length in the growing child, preventing reattachment. Finally, it is noteworthy that despite ongoing PCL laxity in this child, functional results were excellent at 3.5-year follow-up, supporting at least short-term conservative management of such injuries in children.