Anterolateral Ligament of the Knee: Anatomy, Function, Imaging, and Treatment.
The anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee has gained attention recently for its potential role in rotational stability of the knee, especially in association with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Anatomic studies have characterized the ALL as it runs in an anteroinferior and oblique direction from the lateral distal femur to the anterolateral proximal tibia, although the prevalence and variance of this ligament are not well understood. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound have identified the ligament and linked it with the classically described Segond fracture. While the ALL likely plays a role in rotational stability of the knee, further studies investigating the significance of ALL injuries and the role of ALL reconstruction in combination with ACL reconstruction are warranted.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA.
Ronak M
RM
Patel
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St Louis, Chesterfield, Missouri, USA.
Robert H
RH
Brophy
D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005269:Femur; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013977:Tibia; D013978:Tibial Fractures
anterior cruciate ligament; anterolateral ligament; pivot shift; rotational instability