title: The anterior intermeniscal ligament of the knee: an anatomic and MR study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purposes of this study were to identify the presence of the anterior intermeniscal ligament of the knee (AIL), to study its attachment patterns and relationships to other anatomic structures within the knee and to evaluate the potential association of its rupture with other pathology of the knee.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten human cadaver knees were dissected excluding knees with surgical scars. Fifty-one MR examinations were performed in symptomatic patients. Arthroscopic observations were carried out on ten patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AIL was found in nine dissected knees with type I insertion in six cases, type II insertion in three cases. The average length was 31.2 mm (25-45 mm). The average distance between AIL and insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament was 12 mm (11-15 mm). Concerning MR study, AIL was found in 34 cases (82.9%). Four (9.75%) ruptures of the AIL were encountered. Where AIL was intact, 14 patients presented meniscal lesions (46.6%). Where AIL was ruptured, three patients presented meniscal lesions (75%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates through anatomical and MR studies that AIL is present in more than 80% of the cases with predominant type I insertion. The association of meniscal and AIL lesions was highlighted demonstrating that AIL is not only an anatomical point of interest but also a clinical and surgical reality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Dupuytren University Hospital, Limoges, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-Sylvain
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Marcheix
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marcheix
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegler
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bouillet
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaynes
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valleix
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mabit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult