The relationship between histopathological staging of the posterior cruciate ligament of the knee and functional scorings

Aim: Studies evaluating the histopathology of the PCL are limited in the literature. Our aim was to investigate the correlation between the histopathology of the PCL and preoperative knee functional scores and to investigate the functional scores and subparameters of these scores that can predict microscopic degeneration and function of the PCL preoperatively by histopathologically examining the PCL of patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for gonarthrosis in our clinic. Material and Method: We investigated functional scores and subparameters of functional scores that can preoperatively predict the microscopic degeneration and function of the PCL. In our study, we histopathologically evaluated the PCLs of patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty after a diagnosis of gonarthrosis in our clinic between 2019 and 2023. A total of 73 patients (76 knee tibial plateaus) who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Preoperative functional scores, range of motion and radiological examinations of all patients were evaluated retrospectively. We investigated whether there was a correlation between the histopathology of the patients' PCLs and their preoperative functional scores. Results: Statistically significant relationships were found between histopathological staging and patients' SF-36 physical function and physical role difficulties, LYSHOLM scoring system, WOMAC scoring system and PQAS. Conclusion: We recommend the use of knee functional scores as a clinical predictor of PCL, but we say that the functional scores we use are insufficient to preoperatively evaluate the microscopic degeneration and function of PCL. Therefore, the function of the PCL should be evaluated with the support of knee functional scores, clinical and radiological findings. Key words: PQAS, posterior cruciate ligament, knee functional scores, İnsall-Salvati index, intercondylar notch stenosis