The anatomy of the medial part of the knee.
BACKGROUND
While the anatomy of the medial part of the knee has been described qualitatively, quantitative descriptions of the attachment sites of the main medial knee structures have not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to verify the qualitative anatomy of medial knee structures and to perform a quantitative evaluation of their anatomic attachment sites as well as their relationships to pertinent osseous landmarks.


METHODS
Dissections were performed and measurements were made for eight nonpaired fresh-frozen cadaveric knees with use of an electromagnetic three-dimensional tracking sensor system.


RESULTS
In addition to the medial epicondyle and the adductor tubercle, a third osseous prominence, the gastrocnemius tubercle, which corresponded to the attachment site of the medial gastrocnemius tendon, was identified. The average length of the superficial medial (tibial) collateral ligament was 94.8 mm. The superficial medial collateral ligament femoral attachment was 3.2 mm proximal and 4.8 mm posterior to the medial epicondyle. The superficial medial collateral ligament had two separate attachments on the tibia. The distal attachment of the superficial medial collateral ligament on the tibia was 61.2 mm distal to the knee joint. The deep medial collateral ligament consisted of meniscofemoral and meniscotibial portions. The posterior oblique ligament femoral attachment was 7.7 mm distal and 6.4 mm posterior to the adductor tubercle and 1.4 mm distal and 2.9 mm anterior to the gastrocnemius tubercle. The medial patellofemoral ligament attachment on the femur was 1.9 mm anterior and 3.8 mm distal to the adductor tubercle.


CONCLUSIONS
The medial knee ligament structures have a consistent attachment pattern.
LaPrade
Robert F
RF
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. lapra001@umn.edu
Engebretsen
Anders Hauge
AH
Ly
Thuan V
TV
Johansen
Steinar
S
Wentorf
Fred A
FA
Engebretsen
Lars
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena / Q000379:methods; D005269:Femur / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017888:Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology