Rebound PCL: The recommended gold standard brace in PCL rehabilitation - OPNews (2024)

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Since its launch in 2015, the Rebound PCL brace from Össur has been recommended in rehabilitation protocols for PCL and complex knee injuries worldwide and is used by many key opinion leaders

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), compared to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), has the intrinsic ability to heal and regain continuity after an injury (1). The PCL experiences variable tensile forces during knee flexion (2). Insufficient healing after a PCL rupture can lead to significant pathologies, such as chronic knee pain or knee OA (2). In a PCL deficient knee, gravity and the forces on the joint from the hamstring muscles can potentially cause the tibia to be positioned in a posterior subluxed location relative to the femur (posterior sag) (1). Healing of the PCL in an elongated position can lead to chronic instability and disability. Therefore, anatomically correct positioning during conservative or surgical rehabilitation is important.

The Rebound PCL brace is designed to apply a physiologically correct, dynamic force, providing a more optimal joint environment for rehabilitation of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) ruptures, whether during functional (non-surgical) treatment or post-surgical reconstruction. The Rebound PCL can also be used for complex ligament reconstruction with PCL injury.

The dynamic load of the Rebound PCL on the tibia is generated by applying an anterior directed dynamic force on the calf area and opposing counter forces on the anterior aspect of the leg. The Rebound PCL allows for specific load adaptation according to the patient’s individual anatomy and rehabilitation related requirements.

The Dynamic Tension System™ increases the load on the tibia as the knee goes through flexion, applying an Anterior Drawer force designed to optimise the rehabilitation of the healing PCL. Previous PCL braces have either not sufficiently supported the PCL or only provided a static force to support the PCL (4), leading to forces that are by far too high in knee extension, insufficient support at 90° of knee flexion, or a mix of both.

Several clinical papers have been published on the biomechanical function and clinical outcomes of the Rebound PCL, and most recently its use as a recommended gold standard brace in PCL and posterior-lateral corner (PLC) rehabilitation (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Find the data and more information here.

Functional Healing solutions: Össur’s expertise in Injury Solutions has driven the company to take the next step forward by developing indication-specific products, designed to optimise healing while maintaining function and improving mobility. The Functional Healing icon used in communication is a seal of approval, identifying innovative solutions with high adoption in evidence-based and emerging clinical protocols.

Össur UK

+44 8450 065 065

ossuruk@ossur.com

www.ossur.com/en-gb

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References
(1) Pierce CM, O’Brien L, Griffin LW, Laprade RF. Posterior cruciate ligament tears: functional and postoperative rehabilitation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc [Internet]. 2013 May [cited 2014 Dec 9];21(5):1071–84. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22484415
(2) Strobel MJ, Weiler A, Schulz MS, Russe K, Eichhorn HJ. Arthroscopic evaluation of articular cartilage lesions in posterior-cruciate-ligament-deficient knees. Arthroscopy [Internet]. 2003 Mar [cited 2014 Dec 11];19(3):262–8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12627150
(3) Markolf KL, Feeley BT, Tejwani SG, Martin DE, McAllister DR. Changes in knee laxity and ligament force after sectioning the posteromedial bundle of the posterior cruciate ligament. Arthroscopy. 2006 Oct; 22(10):1100–1106. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17027408
(4) Jansson KS, Costello KE, O’Brien L, Wijdicks CA, Laprade RF. A historical perspective of PCL bracing. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc [Internet]. 2013 May [cited 2014 Dec 11];21(5):1064–70. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22622778
(5) LaPrade et al. Quantification of functional brace forces for posterior cruciate ligament injuries on the knee joint: an in vivo investigation; Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2015 Oct;23(10):3070-66.
(6) Welch T. et al. The effect of a dynamic PCL brace on patellofemoral compartment pressures in PCL-and PCL/PLC-deficient knees; J Exp. Orthop.2017 Dec;4(1):10
(7) Moatshe G. et al. Diagnosis and treatment of multiligament knee injury: state of the art; J ISAKOS June 26, 2 (3) 152-161
(8) Owesen C. et al. Surgical reconstruction is a cost-efficient treatment option for isolated PCL injuries; Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2017) DOI 10.1007/s00167-017-4632-59.
(9) Dean et al. Paraskiing crash and knee dislocation with multiligament reconstruction and iliotibial band repair Am J Orthopaedics (2017) Oct./ November E301-7
(10) Godin et al. Multiligament Knee Injuries in Older Adolescents: A 2-Year Minimum Follow-up Study the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 5(9), 2325967117727717 DOI: 10.1177/2325967117727717