The role of the popliteofibular ligament and the tendon of popliteus in providing stability in the human knee (original) (raw)
Related papers
Anatomical Study of the Posterolateral Ligament Complex of the Knee: LCL and Popliteus Tendon
Acta Ortopédica Brasileira, 2021
Objective: To analyse the distances between the femoral insertions of the popliteus tendon (PT) and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) through dissections of cadaveric specimens in a mixed population. Methods: Fresh cadavers were dissected, and the anthropometric data of all specimens were recorded. The distances from the origin of the PT to the LCL in the femoral region and the diameter of each structure were measured using a digital calliper. Results: In total, 11 unpaired knees were dissected, eight men and three women, with an average age of 71.5 ± 15.2 years, weight of 57.2 ± 15.6 kg, and a mean height of 170.5 ± 8.2 cm. The distance from the center of the femoral footprint of the LCL to the PT was 10.0 ± 2.4 mm. The distances between the edges closest to each other and those more distant from each other were 3.1 ± 1.1 mm and 16.3 ± 2.4 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The distance between the midpoints of the PT and the LCL in our mixed population is smaller than the distances...
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2013
Purpose To determine the involvement of the posterolateral structures including the lateral collateral ligament, the popliteus muscle-tendon unit, the arcuate ligament (popliteofibular ligament, fabellofibular ligament, popliteomeniscal fascicles, capsular arm of short head of the biceps femoris and anterolateral ligament) and the posterior cruciate ligament in providing restraint to excessive recurvatum, tibial posterior translation and external tibial rotation at 90°of flexion. Methods Ten fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were tested with dial test, posterior drawer test and recurvatum test. The values were collected, using a surgical navigation system, on intact knees, following a serial section of the posterolateral corner (lateral collateral ligament, arcuate ligament and popliteus muscle-tendon unit), followed by the additional section of the posterior cruciate ligament. Results The mean tibial external rotation, recurvatum and posterior drawer were, respectively, measured at 9°± 4°, 2°± 3°and 9 ± 1 mm on intact knees. These values increase to 12°± 5°, 3°± 2°and 9 ± 1 mm after cutting the lateral collateral ligament; 17°± 6°(p \ 0.05), 3°± 2°and 10 ± 1 mm after sectioning the arcuate ligament; 18°± 7°, 3°± 2°and 10 ± 1 mm after sectioning the popliteus muscle-tendon unit and 27°± 6°(p \ 0.05), 5°± 3°(p \ 0.05) and 28 ± 2 mm (p \ 0.05) after the additional section of the posterior cruciate ligament. Conclusion Among the different structures of the posterolateral corner, only the arcuate ligament has a significant role in restricting excessive primary and coupled external rotation. The popliteus muscle-tendon unit is not a primary static stabilizer to tibial external rotation at 90°of knee flexion. The posterior cruciate ligament is the primary restraint to excessive recurvatum and posterior tibial translation. The posterior cruciate ligament and the arcuate ligament have predominant role for the posterolateral stability of the knee. The functional restoration of these ligaments is an important part of the surgical treatment of posterolateral ligamentous injuries.
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 2012
Purpose This cadaveric study assessed the relative role of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and popliteofibular ligament (PFL) in limiting tibia external rotation. Methods Eight paired cadaveric knees were divided into two groups. The specimens were mounted on a rotational wheel and 5 Nm external rotation torque was applied before and after cutting the ligaments at 0°-30°-60°-90°k nee flexion. Three cutting steps were applied: (1) PT (popliteus tendon)-, (2) LCL-, (3) PFL in group I, and (1) PT-, (2) PFL-, (3)LCL in group II. Increased external rotation at each step was taken as the ratio of final external rotation at the end of step 3. Repeated measure ANOVA and a Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results At step 2, the ratio of increased external rotation after cutting the LCL (group I) was similar to the ratio after cutting the PFL (group II) at 0°and 30°flexion, but that of group I was lower than group II at 60°and 90°flexion (p = 0.029 and p = 0.029). At step-3, the ratio after cutting the LCL (group II) was less than the ratio after cutting the PFL (group I) at 90°flexion (p = 0.029). Conclusion The PFL and LCL play equally important roles in limiting external rotation at the knee extended position (0°, 30°) but the LCL contribution becomes smaller than PFL at the flexed position (60°, 90°).
The American journal of sports medicine
Quantitative descriptions of the attachment sites of the main posterolateral knee structures have not been performed. To qualitatively and quantitatively determine the anatomic attachment sites of these structures and their relationships to pertinent bony landmarks. Cadaveric study. Dissections were performed and measurements taken on 10 nonpaired fresh-frozen cadaveric knees. The fibular collateral ligament had an average femoral attachment slightly proximal (1.4 mm) and posterior (3.1 mm) to the lateral epicondyle. Distally, it attached 8.2 mm posterior to the anterior aspect of the fibular head. The popliteus tendon had a constant broad-based femoral attachment at the most proximal and anterior fifth of the popliteal sulcus. The popliteus tendon attachment on the femur was always anterior to the fibular collateral ligament. The average distance between the femoral attachments of the popliteus tendon and fibular collateral ligament was 18.5 mm. The popliteofibular ligament had two...
Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies
This paper investigated the dependence of the stability of the knee joint, when exposed to external rotational load on the lower leg, on the position of the graft of the tendon of the popliteal muscle. Estimation finite-element models of the right knee joint of an adult were constructed, which included the articular ends of the bones that form this joint, as well as its main ligaments. The models reflected a surgery to restore posterolateral angle structures and differed only in the position of the popliteal tendon graft. That position was set by the point of attachment of the graft to the posterior surface of the tibia. At the same time, the fixation point changed both vertically and horizontally, in the frontal plane. In addition, a control model was built in which the hamstring tendon was completely absent. As a result of the calculations, patterns of the distribution of the fields of movement of the points of the finite-element model were obtained. As criteria for assessing the ...
Mechanical Properties of the Posterolateral Structures of the Knee
The individual biomechanical strength properties of the fibular collateral ligament, popliteofibular ligament, and popliteus tendon have not been well elucidated by previous studies. To define the necessary strength requirements for a posterolateral knee reconstruction, these properties for the main individual structures of the posterolateral knee need to be defined.