Posterolateral corner of the knee: microsurgical analysis of anatomy and morphometry

Reconstruction of the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee is essential to restore knee joint function. Controversy exists regarding a standardized nomenclature, the connective attachments and the relationships between them, and the frequency of occurrence among all structures of the PLC. Thirty human cadaveric knee specimens were investigated. The lateral collateral ligament, popliteus tendon, popliteofibular ligament, fabellofibular ligament, arcuate ligament, oblique popliteal ligament, posterior meniscofemoral ligament, and popliteal hiatus (including the popliteomeniscal ligaments) were studied. The length, diameter, variations, course, and morphology of these structures, as well as the position and dimension of the insertion, were measured and referenced the footprints to adjacent bony landmarks. Compared with existing studies, the lateral collateral ligament footprint was more proximal to the lateral femoral epicondyle (average, 3.61 ± 0.75 mm) and the popliteus tendon insertion was more distal and anterior to the lateral collateral ligament footprint (average, 5.69 ± 1.36 mm and 4.97 ± 1.73 mm, respectively). Only minor data have been published on the fabellofibular ligament (average length, 33.79 ± 4.98 mm; average diameter, 4.04 ± 1.22 mm), arcuate ligament (average length, 31.54 ± 2.82 mm; average diameter, 7.27 ± 1.56 mm), oblique popliteal ligament (average length, 45.56 ± 4.67 mm; average diameter, 14.90 ± 4.67 mm), posterior meniscofemoral ligament (average length, 23.75 ± 3.17 mm; average diameter, 3.62 ± 1.03 mm), and popliteomeniscal ligaments (average mediolateral popliteal hiatus diameter, 9.83 ± 2.16 mm; average superoinferior popliteal hiatus diameter, 8.23 ± 1.86 mm).