The Cruciate Ligament Injury can be categorized basically into two groups of anterior and posterior injuries. The conditions are defined according to the place they occur. The Cruciate Ligament Injury is therefore an injury which occurs to the cruciate ligament. These are the stabilizing ligaments of the knee and attach the knee end to the femur. The role of the cruciate ligament is to limit the movement of the tibia under the femur. However, when there is an injury to the part, people experience a number of problems that might hinder their movement and lead to discomfort.

The prominences of the posterior injuries are much less than those of the anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury. This has been attributed mainly to the thickness and strength of the posterior cruciate ligament. The known methods that result in the posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury are mainly through direct impact. This is any impact to the front of the tibia especially when the knee is bent. The injuries are often associated with other structures in the rear compartment of knee joints. The structures could include the lateral meniscus rears and the articular cartilage.

The anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury on the other hand is more prominent among the sports people. The injury usually occurs from a twisting force which is applied on the knee. The foot in this circumstance is firmly planted on the ground. The injury can also result from a direct blow to the knee. In most cases, the injury is seen in combination with MCL injury and medial meniscus tear. The injuries are more frequent in females than in males.

The symptoms of the two cruciate ligament injuries are closely related. In both cases, the patients experience pain, there is an audible sound at the time of injury, swelling, restricted movement, mild tenderness and joint instability. The severity varies between individuals and depending on the impact severity.