Functional Outcome and Donor Site Morbidity Following Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Reconstruction Using Peroneus Longus Tendon Autograft: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries present significant challenges in orthopaedic management. The peroneus longus tendon (PLT) has emerged as a potential autograft source; however, its role in PCL reconstruction remains underexplored. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted on 25 patients aged 18-50 years with isolated PCL injuries who underwent arthroscopic single-bundle reconstruction using ipsilateral PLT autograft. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Tegner Lysholm Knee Score, while donor site morbidity was evaluated using the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score at one, three, and six months postoperatively. Results The mean Lysholm score improved significantly from 48.60 ± 7.77 preoperatively to 83.84 ± 8.13 at six months (p < 0.001). FADI and AOFAS scores showed an initial postoperative decline followed by near-complete recovery at six months (p < 0.001). Complications occurred in 16% of patients. Conclusion PLT autograft provides significant functional improvement with minimal donor site morbidity, supporting its use as a viable alternative graft option in PCL reconstruction.