Skip to main content

The anatomy and biomechanics of the medial collateral ligament and posteromedial corner of the knee

  • Chapter

Abstract

The medial and posteromedial aspect of the knee has been studied much less than the posterolateral aspect. The underling reason for that relates to the greater healing potential of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), which means that medial injuries are often treated conservatively, so there has been less pressure to develop sophisticated methods to treat these structures surgically. A further contributor to this situation is the difference in the mechanical environment, which means that injuries may have differing impacts on function. However, because the clinician is always alert to the possibility of damage to the posterolateral structures, it may be the case that medial side injuries are not looked for, or that changes in rotational laxity are misdiagnosed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Brantigan OC, Voshell AF (1943) The tibial collateral ligament: its function, its bursae, and its relation to the medial meniscus. J Bone Joint Surg Am 25:121–131

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hughston JC, Eilers AF (1973) The role of the posterior oblique ligament in repairs of acute medial (collateral) ligament tears of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg 55A:923–940

    Google Scholar 

  3. LaPrade RF, Engebretsen AH, Ly TV, et al. (2007) The anatomy of the medial part of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 89:2000–2010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Palmer I. (1938) On the injuries to the ligaments of the knee joint. Acta Chir Scand 81 Suppl, 53:3–282

    Google Scholar 

  5. Robinson JR, Sanchez-Ballester J, Bull AMJ, et al. (2004) The posteromedial corner revisited — an anatomical description of the restraining structures of the medial aspect of the human knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 86:674–681

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Slocum DB, Larson RL (1968) Rotatory instability of the knee. Its pathogenesis and a clinical test to determine its presence. J Bone Joint Surg 50A:211–225

    Google Scholar 

  7. Warren LF, Marshall JL. (1979) The supporting structures and layers on the medial side of the knee: an anatomical analysis. J Bone Joint Surg 61-A:56–62

    Google Scholar 

  8. Powers CM, Chen YJ, Farrokhi S, Lee TQ (2006) Role of peripatellar retinaculum in transmission of forces in the extensor mechanism. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88:2042–2048

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Strobel M, Stedfeld H-W (1990) Diagnostic evaluation of the knee. Berlin: Springer-Verlag: 17–25

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Wymenga AB, Kats JJ, Kooloos J, Hillen B (2006) Surgical anatomy of the medial collateral ligament and the posteromedial capsule of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 14:229–234

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fischer RA, Arms SW, Johnson RJ, Pope MH (1985) The functional relationship of the posterior oblique ligament to the medial collateral ligament of the human knee. Am J Sports Med 13:390–397

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kennedy JC, Hawkins RJ, Willis RB, Danylchuck KD. (1976) Tension studies of human knee ligaments. Yield point, ultimate failure, and disruption of the cruciate and tibial collateral ligaments. J Bone Joint Surg 58-A:350–355

    Google Scholar 

  13. Marinozzi G, Pappalardo S, Steindler R. (1983) Human knee ligaments: mechanical tests and ultrastructural observations. Ital J Orthop Traumatol 9:231–240

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trent PS, Walker PS, Wolf B. (1976) Ligament length patterns, strength, and rotational axes of the knee joint. Clin Orthop 117:263–270

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Robinson JR, Bull AMJ, Amis AA (2005) Structural properties of the medial collateral ligament complex of the human knee. J Biomech 38:1067–1074

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Laros GS, Tipton CM, Cooper RR. (1971) Influence of physical activity on ligament insertions in the knees of dogs. J Bone Joint Surg 53A:275–286

    Google Scholar 

  17. Woo SL, Orlando CA, Gomez MA, et al. (1986) Tensile properties of the medial collateral ligament as a function of age. J Orthop Res 4:133–141

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Grood ES, Noyes FR, Butler DL, Suntay WJ (1981) Ligamentous and capsular restraints preventing straight medial and lateral laxity in intact human cadaver knees. J Bone Joint Surg 63A:1257–1269

    Google Scholar 

  19. Robinson JR, Bull AMJ, Thomas R deW, Amis AA (2006) The role of the medial collateral ligament and posteromedial capsule in controlling knee laxity. Am J Sports Med 34:1815–1823

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kennedy JC, Fowler PJ (1971) Medial and Anterior instability of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg 53A:1257–1270

    Google Scholar 

  21. Butler DL, Noyes FR, Grood ES (1980) Ligamentous restraints to anterior-posterior drawer in the human knee. A biomechanical study. J Bone Joint Surg 62A:259–270

    Google Scholar 

  22. Noyes FR, Grood ES, Butler DL, Paulos LE (1980) Clinical biomechanics of the knee-ligament restraints and functional stability. In: A Funk (ed): AAOS Symposium on the Athlete’s Knee. Surgical Repair and Reconstruction. Mosby, St. Louis, Missouri, 1–35

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hughston JC, Barrett GR (1983) Acute anteromedial rotatory instability. Long-term results of surgical repair. J Bone Joint Surg 65A:145–153

    Google Scholar 

  24. Race A, Amis AA (1996) Loading of the two bundles of the posterior cruciate ligament: an analysis of bundle function in A-P drawer. J Biomech 29:873–879

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Apsingi S, Nguyen T, Deehan D, et al. (2008) The role of PCL reconstruction in knees with combined PCL and posterolateral corner deficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc in press Oct 16:104–111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ritchie JR, Bergfeld JA, Kambic H, Manning T (1998) Isolated sectioning of the medial and posteromedial capsular ligaments in the posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee. Influence on posterior tibial translation. Am J Sports Med 26:389–394

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag France, Paris

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Amis, A.A., Robinson, J.R. (2012). The anatomy and biomechanics of the medial collateral ligament and posteromedial corner of the knee. In: The Knee Joint. Springer, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-287-99353-4_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-2-287-99353-4_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Paris

  • Print ISBN: 978-2-287-99352-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-2-287-99353-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics