Anatomical Reconsideration of the Lateral Collateral Ligament in the Human Knee: Anatomical Observation and Literature Review

Abstract

In the published literature as well as in the most commonly used textbooks, the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is described as having 1 attachment at the lateral epicondyle of the femur and another at the head of the fibula. In this article, we reconsider the attachments, the length of the LCL, and the tissues surrounding the LCL by presenting our anatomical observations and by reviewing the literature. Our results have shown that the LCL is not only attached to the lower part of the lateral epicondyle of the femur, but also extends to the upper part of the lateral epicondyle. The attachment of the LCL on the fibula is enclosed by 2 insertion points of the biceps femoris tendon. The average length of the LCL in 71 knees was 51.4 mm. There is an "incomplete gap" on the LCL that is interrupted under the tendon of the biceps femoris.

Morphology of the femoral insertion of the lateral collateral ligament and popliteus tendon

“…Several anatomical studies of the femoral insertion of the PLC have been described, and most authors have indicated large positional variations in the femoral insertion of the LCL and PT. Thus, their accurate positions are still controversial [1, 12–15, 23, 26, 30, 31]. To perform anatomical reconstruction of the PLC using double femoral tunnel techniques, it is necessary to define the femoral insertion of the LCL and PT, and assess their related osseous landmarks.…”