Abstract
This study explored the anatomic relationship of the popliteus complex (PC) and collected anatomic data of PC in a Chinese population. The anatomic study was performed using 81 formalin-fixed knees. The femoral attachment of the popliteus tendon could be classified into three types with respect to femoral attachment of the lateral collateral ligament. The popliteofibular ligament presented as ligament (87.7%) or fascia (12.3%), originating from the musculotendinous junction of the popliteus muscle or just proximal to it. Given the great variability of the posterolateral structures, reconstructive surgeons should design a method based on individual anatomic features, rather than a fixed reconstructive surgery.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Apsingi S, Nguyen T, Bull AM, Unwin A, Deehan DJ, Amis AA (2009) A comparison of modified Larson and ‘anatomic’ posterolateral corner reconstructions in knees with combined PCL and posterolateral corner deficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:305–312
Brinkman JM, Schwering PJ, Blankevoort L, Kooloos JG, Luites J, Wymenga AB (2005) The insertion geometry of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 87:1364–1368
Covey DC (2001) Injuries of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 83:l06–l118
Gadikota HR, Seon JK, Wu JL, Gill TJ, Li G (2010) The effect of isolated popliteus tendon complex injury on graft force in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees. Int Orthop. doi:10.1007/s00264-010-1118-1
Haslam PG, Bickerstaff DR (2007) Postero-lateral rotatory instability. Curr Orthop 21:451–456
Ishigooka H, Sugihara T, Shimizu K, Aoki H, Hirata K (2004) Anatomical study of the popliteofibular ligament and surrounding structures. Orthop Sci 9:51–58
Jung YB, Jung HJ, Kim SJ et al (2008) Posterolateral corner reconstruction for posterolateral rotatory instability combined with posterior cruciate ligament injuries: comparison between fibular tunnel and tibial tunnel techniques. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 16:239–248
Jung GH, Kim JD, Hyun K (2010) Location and classification of popliteus tendon’s origin: cadaveric study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 130:1027–1032
LaPrade RF, Ly TV, Wentorf F, Engebretsen L (2003) The posterolateral attachments of the knee. Am J Sports Med 31:854–860
LaPrade RF, Tso A, Wentorf FA (2004) Force measurements on the fibular collateral ligament, popliteofibular ligament, and popliteus tendon to applied loads. Am J Sports Med 32:1695–1701
LaPrade RF, Wozniczka JF, Stellmaker MP, Wijdicks CA (2010) Analysis of the static function of the popliteus tendon and evaluation of an anatomic reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 38:543–549
McCarthy M, Camarda L, Wijdicks CA, Johansen S, Engebretsen L, LaPrade RF (2010) Anatomic posterolateral knee reconstructions require a popliteofibular ligament reconstruction though a tibial tunnel. Am J Sports Med 38:1674–1681
Moorman C, LaPrade RF (2005) Anatomy and biomechanics of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Knee Surg 18:137–145
Nau T, Chevalier Y, Hagemeister N, DeGuise JA, Duval N (2005) Comparison of 2 surgical techniques of posterolateral corner reconstruction of the knee. Am J Sports Med 33:1838–1845
Pasque C, Noyes FR, Gibbons M, Levy M, Grood E (2003) The role of the popliteofibular ligament and the tendon of popliteus in providing stability in the human knee. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 85:292–298
Raheem O, Philpott J, Ryan W, Brien MO (2007) Anatomical variations in the anatomy of the posterolateral corner of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 15:895–900
Staubli HU, Birrer S (1990) The popliteus tendon and its fascicles at the popliteal hiatus: gross anatomy and functional arthroscopic evaluation with and without anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. Arthroscopy 6:209–220
Sudasna S, Harnsiriwattanagit K (1990) The ligamentous structures of the posterolateral aspect of the knee. Bull Hosp Jt Dis Orthop Inst 50:35–40
Ullrich K, Krudwig WK, Witzel U (2002) Posterolateral aspect and stability of the knee joint.I. Anatomy and function of the popliteus muscle-tendon unit: an anatomical and biomechanical study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol 10:86–90
Wadia FD, Pimple M, Gajjar SM, Narvekar AD (2003) An anatomic study of the popliteofibular ligament. Int Orthop 27:172–174
Watanabe Y, Moriya H, Takahashi K, Yamagata M, Sonoda M, Shimada Y, Tamaki T (1993) Functional anatomy of the posterolateral structures of the knee. Arthroscopy 9:57–62
Yang JH, Lim HC, Bae JH, Fernandez H, Bae TS, Wang JH (2011) Anatomic and isometric points on femoral attachment site of popliteus muscle-tendon complex for the posterolateral corner reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1442-z
Zantop T, Schumacher T, Diermann N, Schanz S, Raschke MJ, Petersen W (2007) Anterolateral rotational knee instability: role of posterolateral structures. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 127:743–752
Zhang H, Feng H, Hong L, Wang XS, Zhang J (2009) Popliteofibular ligament reconstruction for posterolateral external rotation instability of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:1070–1077
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Professor Su Jiacan of the Orthopaedic Department of Changhai Hospital in Shanghai for his great help with deciding the measurement parameters, and instructor Guo Xiaojing of the Department of Statistics of the Second Military Medical University for her generous help with statistical analysis.
Conflict of interest
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeng, SX., Wu, GS., Dang, RS. et al. Anatomic study of popliteus complex of the knee in a Chinese population. Anat Sci Int 86, 213–218 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0112-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0112-z