Morphology of the fibular insertion of the posterolateral corner and biceps femoris tendon

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2017-01, Vol.25 (1), p.184-191
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Hirotaka, Tajima, Goro, Kikuchi, Shuhei, Yan, Jun, Kamei, Yoichi, Maruyama, Moritaka, Sugawara, Atsushi, Saigo, Takaaki, Doita, Minoru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cadaver; Data imaging; Female; Fibula - anatomy & histology; Hamstring Tendons - physiology; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Joint and ligament injuries; Knee; Knee Joint - anatomy & histology; Ligaments, Articular; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Morphology; Orthopedics; Software; Surgery; Three dimensional imaging; Tomography
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-016-4304-x

Purpose To clarify the fibular head insertion of the fibular collateral ligament (FCL), popliteofibular ligament (PFL), and biceps femoris tendon and related osseous landmarks on three-dimensional (3-D) images. Methods Twenty-one non-paired, formalin-fixed human cadaveric knees were evaluated in this study. The fibular head insertions of the FCL, PFL and biceps femoris tendon were identified and marked. 3-D images were created, and the surface area, location, positional relationships, and morphology of the fibular insertions of the FCL, PFL, and biceps femoris tendon and related osseous structures were analysed. Results The fibular head had a unique pyramidal shape, and the relationships of the fibular insertion of the FCL, PFL, and biceps femoris tendon were consistent. The fibular head consists of three aspects: lateral aspect, posterior aspect, and proximal tibiofibular facet. The insertions of the FCL, PFL, and biceps femoris tendon were attached to the centre from the distal side of the lateral aspects of the fibular head, posterior aspect of the fibular styloid process, and lateral aspect surrounding the FCL, respectively. The mean surface areas of the FCL and PFL fibular insertions were 100.1 ± 29.5 and 18.5 ± 7.2 mm 2 , respectively. Conclusion This study showed that the relationships between the characteristic features of the fibular head and insertions of the FCL, PFL, and biceps femoris tendon were consistent. The clinical relevance of this study is that it improves understanding of the anatomy of the insertions of the PLC and biceps femoris tendon.