Abstract:

Objective To locatize the positions of posterior-lateral corner(PLC) of femoral insertion and external opening of femoral tunnel used in reconstructure of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in order to provide anatomical data for one-stage ACL and PCL anatomical reconstruction. Methods We used 30 adult cadaveric knee specimens. With flextion of knee at 120°, the anatomical ACL femoral tunnel reconstruction was performed under arthroscopy through anteromedial portal and marked with Kirschner. We identified femoral insertion site of the lateral collateral ligament(LCL) and popliteus tendon(PT) on the femoral condyle of the knee. We used the femoral epicondyle as the origin and established(x, y) vertical axis to measure the coordinate of femoral anatomical insertion site of LCL, PT and external opening of ACL femoral tunnel. We measured distances between these three points. Results The LCL insertion site was located at a mean distance of (1.27±3.35)mm proximally and (2.99±1.29)mm posteriorly, to the lateral epicondyle. The PT insertion site was located at a mean distance of (8.85±3.38)mm disstally and (3.83±1.95)mm posteriorly, to the lateral epicondyle. The external opening of the ACL femoral tunnel was located at a mean distance of (16.12±5.34)mm proximally and (6.84±4.17)mm posteriorly, to the lateral epicondyle. The distance between LCL and PT insertion site was (9.67±3.92)mm. The distance from the external opening of ACL femoral tunnel to LCL insertion site was (13.07±4.93)mm, and to PT insertion site was (23.37±6.16)mm. Conclusion We reveal anatomic characteristic of femoral insertion site of the LCL and PT and
external opening of ACL femoral tunnel, and provide anatomic basis for one-stage clinical combination reconstruction.

Key words: Knee joint, Anterior cruciate ligament, Posterior-lateral corner, Tunnel, Reconstruction, Applied anatomy, Human