LaPrade Honored for Two Decades of PCL Injury Research Breakthroughs — American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Event summary

The 2026 ORBIT Award was presented to Robert L. LaPrade for his team's 20-year research on PCL injury diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Research resulted in 34 peer-reviewed publications, five invited journal articles, and 14 book chapters on PCL reconstructions.
Key findings include defining surgically relevant anatomy of the PCL, refining biomechanical understanding, and optimizing postoperative rehabilitation.
The team developed a dynamic PCL brace that mimics native ligament function to improve healing without stretching.

The big picture

The ORBIT Award recognizes a significant milestone in orthopedic research, addressing long-standing challenges in PCL injury treatment. LaPrade's work has shifted the paradigm from poor outcomes to near-native knee kinematics restoration, potentially influencing future standards of care for ligament injuries.

What we're watching

Clinical Adoption: How the double-bundle PCL reconstruction technique will be adopted by surgeons given current single-bundle practices.
Rehabilitation Advances: The pace at which early weightbearing protocols post-PCL surgery will become standard practice.
Diagnostic Standards: Whether stress radiographs and MRI-based diagnostic standards for PCL tears gain broader acceptance in clinical settings.