title: The insertion geometry of the posterolateral corner of the knee.
abstract: We have quantitatively documented the insertion geometry of the main stabilising structures of the posterolateral corner of the knee in 34 human cadavers. The lateral collateral ligament inserted posterior (4.6 mm, sd 2) and proximal (1.3 mm, sd 3.6) to the lateral epicondyle of the femur and posterior (8.1 mm, sd 3.2) to the anterior point of the head of the fibula. On the femur, the popliteus tendon inserted distally (11 mm, sd 0.8) and either anterior or posterior (mean 0.84 mm anterior, sd 4) to the lateral collateral ligament. The popliteofibular ligament inserted distal (1.3 mm, sd 1.2) and anterior (0.5 mm, sd 2.0) to the tip of the styloid process of the fibula. The ligaments had a consistent pattern of insertion and, despite the variation between specimens, the standard deviations were less than the typical size of drill hole used in reconstruction of the posterolateral corner. The data provided in this study can be used in the anatomical repair and reconstruction of this region of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, St. Maartenskliniek, P. O. Box 9011, 6500 GM Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.forename: P J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schwering
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blankevoort
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kooloos
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Koolos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luites
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Wymenga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004210:Dissection; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005360:Fibula / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging