Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery: Tips and Tricks to Avoid Complications from a High-Volume Center
Abstract
Background: Posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR) remains one of the most technically demanding procedures in knee ligament surgery, with complication rates considerably higher than those observed for other arthroscopic procedures. Residual laxity, arthrofibrosis, neurovascular injury, tunnel-related complications, and heterotopic ossification (HO) represent the most frequent adverse events. With increasing surgical volumes and complexity—particularly in multiligament knee injuries (MLKIs)—structured, evidence-based strategies for complication avoidance are essential. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of the main complications associated with PCLR and to propose a structured, reproducible protocol for complication prevention integrating current literature and high-volume institutional experience. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar to identify clinical, biomechanical, and systematic studies on PCLR complications published between 2010 and 2025. Overall, 58 studies were screened and 33 were included for qualitative synthesis. Among the included studies, the level of evidence was Level I in five systematic reviews/meta-analyses, Level III–IV in seven observational clinical studies and registries, and Level V in biomechanical studies, narrative reviews, and expert consensus reports. In parallel, the recommendations were informed by the cumulative experience of a high-volume tertiary referral center with 187 PCLR procedures performed between 2010 and 2025 (136 MLKI, 51 isolated). Results: Evidence identifies several key predictors of postoperative complications: low posterior tibial slope (
Fields of Study & Subjects
Knee injuries and reconstruction techniques
Elbow and Forearm Trauma Treatment
Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Complications
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 6–6
- Publication date
- 2 March 2026
- Language
- EN