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Tommaso Campeggi1,2, L Alejandro Culebras Almeida1, Victoria Duthon1
1Centre de médecine du sport et de l'exercice, Swiss Olympic Medical Center, Hirslanden Clinique La Colline, 1206 Genève.
Revue Medicale Suisse
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Injuries to the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee are frequently missed, often due to co-occurring injuries. Diagnosis challenges stem from underdiagnosis, imaging limitations, and instability arising from multiple structural failures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Knee Anatomy
Background:
- Posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries are often overlooked in knee trauma.
- Co-occurrence with cruciate, meniscal, or multiligament injuries complicates diagnosis.
- Underdiagnosis remains a significant clinical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an in-depth overview of posterolateral corner (PLC) knee anatomy.
- To detail the clinical presentation of PLC injuries.
- To highlight diagnostic challenges and contributing factors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of posterolateral corner (PLC) knee injuries.
- Analysis of anatomical structures and their biomechanical roles.
- Correlation of clinical findings with imaging and surgical outcomes.
Main Results:
- PLC injuries are consistently underdiagnosed in clinical practice.
- Imaging findings may not accurately reflect the extent of PLC injury, especially for peripheral structures.
- Knee instability often results from combined failures of multiple stabilizing structures, not isolated PLC disruption.
Conclusions:
- Improved diagnostic strategies for PLC injuries are crucial.
- A comprehensive understanding of knee biomechanics is essential for accurate assessment.
- Multifactorial instability necessitates a holistic approach to knee injury management.