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Relationship between human femorotibial joint configuration and the morphometry of the anterior cruciate ligament

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Individual variations in the anatomy of the knee joint have been suggested to affect the ability to functionally compensate for ACL insufficiency or to put an individual at an increased risk of ACL injury. These variations include the posterior tibial slope, the concavity of the medial tibial plateau, the convexity of the lateral tibial plateau, and the configuration of the femoral condyles.

Method

This anatomical study investigates if there is a correlation between the individual surface geometry of the femorotibial joint and the morphometry of the ACL. These data were assumed to provide evidence whether or not the functional stability of an ACL-insufficient knee may be derived from its radiographic surface geometry. Standardised measurement techniques were used to analyse the surface geometry of 68 human cadaver knees. Data were correlated with the cross-sectional area, the area of insertion and position of the footprint of the ACL and its functional bundles.

Results

Analysis revealed that there was a significant, but weak correlation between the femoral and tibial area of ACL insertion and the depth of the medial and lateral femoral condyle. No correlation was found between the surface geometry of the femorotibial joint and the cross-sectional area of the ACL. The results of this anatomical study suggest that the relationship between the joint surfaces and the morphometry of the ACL primarily is a function of size of the knee joint.

Conclusions

Based on our results, there is no evidence that the stability of the knee can be derived from its radiographic surface geometry.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany

    Jens Dargel, Klaus Schlüter-Brust, Peer Eysel & Joern W.-P. Michael

  2. Center of Anatomy, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann Strasse 9, 50931, Cologne, Germany

    Janna Feiser & Jürgen Koebke

  3. Arcus Sportklinik Pforzheim, Rastatter Str. 17-19, 75179, Pforzheim, Germany

    Rüdiger Schmidt-Wiethoff

Authors
  1. Jens Dargel
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  2. Rüdiger Schmidt-Wiethoff
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Correspondence to Jens Dargel.

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Dargel, J., Schmidt-Wiethoff, R., Feiser, J. et al. Relationship between human femorotibial joint configuration and the morphometry of the anterior cruciate ligament. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 131, 1095–1105 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1345-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1345-y

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