The anterior intermeniscal ligament of the knee: an anatomic and MR study.
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.
Marcheix
Pierre-Sylvain
PS
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Dupuytren University Hospital, Limoges, France.
Marcheix
Bertrand
B
Siegler
Julien
J
Bouillet
Philippe
P
Chaynes
Patrick
P
Valleix
Denis
D
Mabit
Christian
C
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