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Functional bundles of the medial patellofemoral ligament

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the anatomy and evaluate the function of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). Anatomical dissection was performed on 12 fresh-frozen knee specimens. The MPFL is a condensation of capsular fibers, which originates at the medial femoral condyle. It runs transversely and inserts to the medial edge of the patella. With the landmark of the medial femur epicondyle (MFE), the femoral origination was located: just 8.90 ± 3.27 mm proximally and 13.47 ± 3.68 mm posteriorly to the MFE. The most interesting finding in present study was functional bundles of its patellar insertion. Approximately from the femoral origination point, fibers of the MPFL form two relatively concentrated fiber bundles: the inferior-straight bundle and the superior-oblique bundle. The whole length of each was 71.78 ± 5.51 and 73.67 ± 5.40 mm, respectively. The included angle between bundles was 15.1° ± 2.1°. Although the superior-oblique bundle and the inferior-straight bundle run on the patellar MPFL inferiorly and superiorly, respectively, as their name indicates, the two bundles are not entirely separated, which make MPFL one intact structure. The inferior-straight bundle is the main static soft tissue restraints where the superior-oblique bundle associated with vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) is to serve as the main dynamic soft tissue restraints. So this finding may provide the theoretical foundation for the anatomical reconstruction of the MPFL and shed lights on the future researchers.

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Acknowledgments

Author thanks the Department of Anatomy of Hebei Medical University for providing samples for this study. Thanks also go to Professor Zhang for drawing of schematic diagram in the manuscript. This study receives no financial support.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors have read and contributed to the submitted manuscript, and there is no conflict of interest among the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Joint Surgery, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139 Ziqiang Road, 050051, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

    Hui Jun Kang, Fei Wang, Bai Cheng Chen, Yan Ling Su & Chang Bao Yan

  2. Department of Anatomy, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan Road, 050017, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

    Zhan Chi Zhang

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  1. Hui Jun Kang
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  2. Fei Wang
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  3. Bai Cheng Chen
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  4. Yan Ling Su
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  5. Zhan Chi Zhang
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Correspondence to Fei Wang.

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Kang, H.J., Wang, F., Chen, B.C. et al. Functional bundles of the medial patellofemoral ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18, 1511–1516 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1090-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1090-8

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