Abstract
Intra-articular entrapment of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a rare but recognised complication of traumatic injury to the posteromedial corner (PMC) of the knee. Considering the MCL is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee this complication is extremely rare with only a handful of cases describing MCL entrapment following distal avulsion of the MCL. We present the first known case of MCL entrapment following proximal avulsion of the MCL and posterior oblique ligament (POL) with the mid-substance of the MCL becoming entrapped in the joint, lying on the superior surface of the medial meniscus and extending up into the intercondylar notch. In addition, the medial patellar retinaculum was also entrapped in the medial aspect of the medial patellofemoral joint. MCL entrapment is best treated with expeditious surgical intervention and it is therefore crucial that the MRI findings are not overlooked. Details of the clinical assessment, MRI and operative findings are presented with a literature review of MCL entrapment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fetto JF, Marshall JL. Medial collateral ligament injuries of the knee: a rationale for treatment. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1978;132:206–18.
Warme WJ, Feagin JRJA, King P, Lambert KL, Cunningham RR. Ski injury statistics, 1982 to 1993, Jackson hole ski resort. Am J Sports Med. 1995;23(5):597–600.
LaPrade RF, Engebretsen AH, Ly TV, Johansen S, Wentorf FA, Engebretsen L. The anatomy of the medial part of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(9):2000–10.
Robinson JR, Sanchez-Ballester J, Bull AM, Thomas RW, Amis AA. The posteromedial corner revisited: an anatomical description of the passive restraining structures of the medial aspect of the human knee. J Bone Joint Surg (Br). 2004;86(5):674–81.
Amis AA, Robinson JR. The anatomy and biomechanics of the medial collateral ligament and posteromedial corner of the knee. The Knee Joint 2012;23–30. Springer Paris.
Kannus P. Long-term results of conservatively treated medial collateral ligament injuries of the knee joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1988;226:103–12.
Noyes FR, Barber-Westin SD. The treatment of acute combined ruptures of the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 1995;23(4):380–91.
Kakarlapudi TK, Bickerstaff DR. Topic in review: knee instability: isolated and complex. West J Med. 2001;174(4):266.
Polly DW Jr, Callaghan JJ, Sikes RA, McCabe JM, McMahon K, Savory CG. The accuracy of selective magnetic resonance imaging compared with the findings of arthroscopy of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988;70:192–8.
Phisitkul P, James SL, Wolf BR, Amendola A. MCL injuries of the knee: current concepts review. Iowa Orthop J. 2006;26:77.
Patel JJ. Intra-articular entrapment of the medial collateral ligament: radiographic and MRI findings. Skelet Radiol. 1999;28(11):658–60.
Desai R, Parikh S, Laor T. Intra-articular entrapment of the medial collateral ligament. Orthopedics. 2010;1:33(9).
Griswold AS. Irreducible dislocations of the knee joint. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1951;33(3):787–91.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walton, E., Williams, M. & Robinson, J.R. Incarceration of the medial collateral ligament in the intercondylar notch following proximal avulsion. Skeletal Radiol 46, 1575–1578 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2723-5
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-017-2723-5