Reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament with allograft.

PCL reconstruction is often a necessary procedure to regain functional knee stability. The procedures used are not able to precisely recreate normal anatomy but are able to provide functional stability to posteriorly destabilized knees when properly performed. Our arthroscopic-assisted procedure limits the soft tissue dissection required and enables the best possible visualization for accurate graft placement. This limits scarring and maximizes the ability of the surgeon to provide posterior knee stability. Allograft tissue, when used as an ACL substitute, was initially believed to be as good as autogenous tissue. It is now believed to be inferior because of slower healing and a tendency to attenuate. PCL allograft reconstructions have not been adequately studied to determine if this same tendency of graft attenuation occurs. In many knees, however, adequate autogenous tissue may not be available, and the only chance to regain stability requires using an allograft. It is in these circumstances that the authors recommend allograft reconstructions.