Thirty cadaveric knees were dissected to obtain a detailed understanding of the anatomic structures of the posterolateral aspect of the knee, and a dependable surgical approach to evaluate injuries to these structures was developed and used on 71 consecutive patients who were operated on for posterolateral knee injuries. Three fascial incisions and one lateral midcapsular incision were used to provide surgical access. The following individual anatomic structures were identified: the layers of the iliotibial tract, long and short heads of the biceps femoris muscle, fibular collateral ligament, midthird lateral capsular ligament, fabello-fibular ligament, posterior arcuate ligament, popliteus muscle complex, lateral coronary ligament, and posterior capsule. This study increased our understanding of the individual anatomic structures and the relationships between these components. The surgical approach provided for the evaluation of these anatomic structures should aid the surgeon in properly assessing the injuries before surgical repair. This information should also stimulate more anatomic, biomechanical, and clinical studies of the posterolateral aspect of the knee.
Based on an extensive review of the literature and dissections of 17 fresh-frozen knee specimens, the authors divide the lateral fascia lata of the knee into two functional components: the iliopatellar band and the iliotibial tract. Aponeurotic, superficial, middle, deep, and capsulo-osseous layers contribute to these two functional components. The superficial layer of the iliotibial tract, combined with the deep, and capsulo-osseous layers, is hypothesized to function as an anterolateral ligament of the knee. The iliopatellar band provides stabilization of the patella against a medially directed force and is dynamically influenced by the vastus lateralis. The relationship of the iliotibial tract to extraarticular reconstructions of the knee with anterolateral rotatory instability is discussed.
A knowledge of the patterns of injury to the components of the iliotibial tract allows a clearer interpretation of motion limits testing in patients with abnormal anterior tibial translation of the knee (anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees). Eighty-two consecutive patients with acute knee injuries were classified as anteromedial-anterolateral rotatory instability (anterior cruciate ligament-deficient) based on the abnormal motion demonstrated by clinical examination tests for instability. At surgery, injuries to the intraarticular and extraarticular anatomic structures were identified and correlated to the abnormal grades of motion demonstrated by the knee motion limits examination. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament occurred in 80 (98%) of the knees. However, the grade of abnormal motion demonstrated by the Lachman and pivot shift tests was quite variable. This variation did not correlate statistically with anterior cruciate ligament tears. Injuries to the anatomic components of the iliotibial tract were confirmed in 76 (93%) of the knees. These injuries correlated highly with variations in grades of abnormal motion detected by the following tests: lateral joint line opening at 30 degrees (r2 = 0.05); Lachman test (r2 = 0.08); pivot shift (r2 = 0.16); and anterior translation at 90 degrees of flexion (r2 = 0.34). Thus, injuries to the components of the iliotibial tract are thought to contribute to the variation in grades of abnormal motion observed in this complex subgroup of anterior tibial translation instabilities.
A questionnaire using a system of visual analog scales was developed for analyzing subjective knee complaints. This system was tested on 117 consecutive patients who had undergone knee surgery and 65 patients at their initial office evaluation of a knee disorder. The validity of and patient affinity for this type of questionnaire was compared with that of three other established subjective evaluation methods. The visual analog scale system was shown to be valid and comparable to other methods while offering several advantages. It brought greater sensitivity and greater statistical power to data collection and analysis by allowing a broader range of responses than did traditional categorical responses. It removed bias that was introduced by examiner questioning, and it allowed graphic temporal comparisons. Most importantly, patient affinity was higher for this type of subjective evaluation than for other methods.
These principles of shoulder function have application in the treatment of instability and frozen shoulder syndrome, and provide an in vitro model to better understand static restraint function in the throwing mechanism.
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