Acute PCL Injury with Concomitant Peripheral Nerve Injury of the Knee (Nerve Anatomically Intact)

This protocol addresses the specific clinical situation of an acute posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury occurring alongside a peripheral nerve injury at the knee — where imaging and clinical assessment confirm that the nerve remains anatomically intact.

Neurovascular complications, including peripheral nerve injury, are a recognised concern in the setting of knee ligament trauma — particularly in multiligament injuries. When the affected nerve is confirmed to be anatomically intact, the management approach for the nerve component differs meaningfully from cases involving structural disruption.

Careful assessment to distinguish isolated PCL injury from multiligament involvement is a key step in guiding this protocol, as most initial neurovascular complications arise in the multiligament context.

For the peripheral nerve injury component, where the nerve is found to be anatomically intact, the initial management involves an observational strategy — monitoring neurological recovery rather than immediate intervention. The complete regimen, including management of the PCL injury itself and the specific monitoring framework, is detailed in the full protocol.