Arthroscopically Pertinent Anatomy of the Anterolateral and Posteromedial Bundles of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 2012-11, Vol.94 (21), p.1936-1945
• Main Authors: Anderson, Colin J., Ziegler, Connor G., Wijdicks, Coen A., Engebretsen, Lars, LaPrade, Robert F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arthroscopy; Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Cartilage, Articular - anatomy & histology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Dissection; Femur - anatomy & histology; Humans; Knee Joint - anatomy & histology; Medical sciences; Menisci, Tibial - anatomy & histology; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Posterior Cruciate Ligament - anatomy & histology; Posterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Reproducibility of Results; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Tibia - anatomy & histology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0021-9355; 1535-1386
• DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.K.01710

The clock-face method to identify the femoral posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) attachment has poor accuracy and reproducibility. Measurements of clinically relevant anatomic structures would provide more useful surgical guidance. The purpose of the present study was to describe the attachments of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles of the PCL relative to relevant landmarks to assist with arthroscopic anatomic PCL reconstructions. Dissections were performed on twenty nonpaired fresh-frozen cadaveric knees. The distal articular cartilage margin of the intercondylar notch had a consistent shape conforming to the attachments of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. The mean distance (and standard deviation) between the femoral centers of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles was 12.1 ± 1.3 mm. The distal margins of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles were a mean of 1.5 ± 0.8 mm and 5.8 ± 1.7 mm proximal to the notch articular cartilage, respectively. On the tibia, the lateral plateau articular cartilage, the medial meniscus attachment, and an osseous ridge ("bundle ridge") separating the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles were important arthroscopic landmarks. The mean distance between the tibial centers of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles was 8.9 ± 1.2 mm. The pertinent landmarks identified during arthroscopic PCL reconstruction consistently marked the borders of the attachments of the anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. To guide femoral tunnel placement, the centers of both bundles should be triangulated relative to the reported landmarks. Furthermore, the distal edge of the femoral anterolateral bundle should be placed adjacent to the articular cartilage, whereas the posteromedial bundle should be centered, on average, 8.6 mm proximal to the cartilage margin, just distal to the medial intercondylar ridge. On the tibia, the PCL tunnel should be placed just anterosuperior to the bundle ridge, with use of the lateral articular cartilage and medial meniscus attachment to guide placement. The results of the present study can assist with more anatomic tunnel placement during single and double-bundle PCL reconstructions. The results also suggest that two reconstruction tunnels are needed to reconstruct the broad femoral attachment, whereas one reconstruction tunnel should be investigated further for the compact tibial attachment.