title: The meniscofemoral ligaments: secondary restraints to the posterior drawer. Analysis of anteroposterior and rotary laxity in the intact and posterior-cruciate-deficient knee.
abstract: We have tested the hypothesis that the meniscofemoral ligaments make a significant contribution to resisting anteroposterior and rotatory laxity of the posterior-cruciate-ligament-deficient knee. Eight cadaver human knees were tested for anteroposterior and rotatory laxity in a materials-testing machine. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) was then divided, followed by division of the meniscofemoral ligaments (MFLs). Laxity results were obtained for intact, PCL-deficient, and PCL-MFL-deficient knees. Division of the MFLs in the PCL-deficient knee increased posterior laxity between 15 degrees and 90 degrees of flexion. Force-displacement measurements showed that the MFLs contributed 28% to the total force resisting posterior drawer at 90 degrees of flexion in the intact knee, and 70.1% in the PCL-deficient knee. There was no effect on rotatory laxity. This is the first study which shows a function for the MFLs as secondary restraints to posterior tibial translation. The integrity of these structures should be assessed during both imaging and arthroscopic studies of PCL-injured knees since this may affect the diagnosis and management of such injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College, London, England, UK.
authors.forename: Chinmay M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gupte
authors.forename: Anthony M J
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: Rhidian D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amis
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000503:physiopathology; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology; D012399:Rotation; D013977:Tibia