title: An anatomic study of the lateral patellofemoral ligament.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The lateral patellofemoral ligament (LPFL) is part of the lateral retinaculum cut during arthroscopic or open release. We investigated its anatomic and morphometric characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified the LPFL insertion point on the condyle in vertical and sagittal planes in 32 adult cadaveric knees. We measured its length and width at the insertion point. We located the midpoint of this point and measured from it to the distal and posterior condylar ends. We measured anterior-posterior and proximal-distal lateral condylar lengths. We evaluated the insertion point shape on the lateral femoral condyle. Degree of relationship between variables was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LPFL mean length was 23.2 mm, and mean width at the insertion point was 15.6 mm. Regarding its insertion into the lateral condyle, central insertions were more frequent (vertical plane: 53.1% central and sagittal plane: 75% central). A significant positive correlation was evident between the LPFL length and width at the insertion point (p = 0.05). Thus, the LPFL length was proportional to its width at the insertion point. A significant positive correlation was found between the anterior-posterior condylar length and width of the LPFL at the insertion point (p = 0.017). Therefore, greater anterior-posterior condylar length equates to a larger area of insertion on the condyle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater width of the LPFL at the insertion point corresponds to greater LPFL and anterior-posterior lateral condylar lengths.
authors: Hinis Sehit Yavuz Yurekseven State Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: sercancapkn@gmail.com.
authors: Sercan
authors: S
authors: Capkin
authors: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: gulsah.zeybek@deu.edu.tr.
authors: Gulsah
authors: G
authors: Zeybek
authors: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: ipek-ergur@hotmail.com.
authors: Ipek
authors: I
authors: Ergur
authors: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: kosaycan@gmail.com.
authors: Can
authors: C
authors: Kosay
authors: Dokuz Eylul University School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: amac.kiray@deu.edu.tr.
authors: Amac
authors: A
authors: Kiray
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000717:Anatomy, Comparative; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D057071:Patellofemoral Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Anatomic study; Lateral condyle of the femur; Lateral patellofemoral ligament