MRI features of the anterolateral ligament of the knee

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging clearly identifies the anterolateral ligament of the knee in slightly more than half of cases, being partially visible in most of them. In all cases, a tibial insertion is characterized.

Ultrasonographic assessment of the anterolateral ligament of the knee in healthy subjects

“…The average length of the ALL reported in literature differs from ours 6 , probably depending on the different positioning in tibial internal rotation and knee flexion used in our study. In an MRI study on living subjects by Taneja 13 , average length was reported as 33.2 mm (range 24.1-39.9 mm) and these values are similar to the average measures we obtained.…”

“…In particular, Parsons et al identified the ALL as an important stabilizer of the knee internal rotation at a flexion angle greater than 35°7. The identification and description of this ligament, was carried out with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in vivo and in anatomic dissection with different percentages of sensitivity [9][10][11][12][13] . At present only three studies identify the ALL on ultrasound (US) imaging.…”

Characterization of the anatomy of the anterolateral ligament of the knee using magnetic resonance imaging

“…Previous studies, focusing on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the ALL, have shown mixed results [22][23][24][25][26][27]. Detection has been studied in cadaveric specimens, injured and uninjured knees with small series offering inconsistent results.…”

Ultrasonography imaging of the anterolateral ligament using real-time virtual sonography

“…Previous studies have reported that the ALL can be identified on MRI [11,12,13]. Therefore, in the present study, we use RVS to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography in demonstrating the ALL.…”

“…Imaging studies identifying the ALL have also become more important in understanding the anatomy and function of this ligament. Some authors have cited radiological visualization parameters specific to this structure using MRI scans [11,12,13]. Helito et al reported that the ALL could be visualized in 1.5-T MRI scans and could be divided into three portions: the femoral, meniscal, and tibial portions [12].…”