Editorial Commentary: Could Time From Injury to Surgery Affect Decision Making for Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Abstract

How long should a trial of conservative treatment of posterior cruciate ligament injuries continue before surgical intervention? A recent study demonstrates that time from injury to surgery could be negatively correlated with graft maturation and remnant preservation. Considering the improvements in arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction outcomes, early intervention could be considered in high functional demand patients with high grades of instability. Yet it remains to be seen whether graft maturation and remnant preservation result in improved clinical outcomes regardless of the time to surgical intervention.