Structural Properties of the Anterolateral Complex and Their Clinical Implications

Gerald A Ferrer; Daniel Guenther; Thierry Pauyo; Elmar Herbst; Kanto Nagai; Richard E Debski; Volker Musahl

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2017.07.005

Structural Properties of the Anterolateral Complex and Their Clinical Implications

Clin Sports Med. 2018 Jan;37(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2017.07.005. Epub 2017 Oct 10.

Authors

Gerald A Ferrer¹, Daniel Guenther², Thierry Pauyo³, Elmar Herbst³, Kanto Nagai³, Richard E Debski⁴, Volker Musahl⁵

Affiliations

¹ Orthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
² Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Street 1, Hannover 30625, Germany.
³ Orthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁴ Orthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁵ Orthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Sports Medicine Fellowship, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, 3200 South Water Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. Electronic address: musahlv@upmc.edu.

PMID: 29173556
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2017.07.005

Abstract

The role of the anterolateral complex of the knee in providing static and rotatory knee stability has been a source of renewed interest in the literature. Several studies have established a role of the anterolateral complex in controlling knee rotational stability. Although the objective quantification of knee kinematics and stability has been investigated, understanding of the structural properties of the anterolateral complex is evolving. This article highlights recent evidence pertaining to the structural properties of the anterolateral structures. The biomechanical evaluation of the structural properties of the anterolateral complex of the knee yielded minimal involvement in controlling knee rotational stability.

Keywords: Anterolateral capsule; Anterolateral ligament; Anterolateral structures of the knee.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomechanical Phenomena
Humans
Joint Instability / physiopathology
Knee Joint / anatomy & histology*
Knee Joint / physiology*
Knee Joint / surgery
Ligaments, Articular / anatomy & histology*
Ligaments, Articular / physiology*
Ligaments, Articular / surgery
Rotation
Tibia / physiology