Common mechanisms for posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries occur when a posteriorly directed sheer force is applied to a flexed knee. One example is the classic "dashboard injury" in which the anterior knee, including the proximal tibia, of the driver or a front seat passenger collides with the car's dashboard (picture A). During sports, PCL injuries occur when an athlete falls onto their flexed knee while the foot is plantar-flexed (picture B), or from a direct blow to the anterior knee (picture C).