MRI-Confirmed Partial PCL Injury Managed Conservatively in a Football Player: A Case- Based Insight

Injuries in Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is less comparatively with other ligaments injury in knee, can still significantly disrupt knee joint function and athletic performance. This report presents the clinical course of a 21-year-old football player who suffered a partial tear of the PCL after sustaining direct trauma to the anterior aspect of the tibia. MRI imaging confirmed partial fiber disruption, localized edema, lateral meniscal changes, and mild collateral ligament involvement. The patient was managed conservatively with physiotherapy, NSAIDs, rest, and bracing. The case emphasizes the importance of detailed assessment and strategic treatment planning for PCL injuries, especially in athletes. It also discusses current classification, conservative vs. operative indications, and rehabilitation. The MRI sequences used for diagnosis included T1-weighted imaging, Proton Density Fat-Saturated (PD FS), T2-weighted imaging, Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR), and 3D Dual-Echo Steady-State (3D DESS).