The anterolateral ligament of the knee joint: a review of the anatomy, biomechanics, and anterolateral ligament surgery

• Published in: Knee Surgery and Related Research, 31(0) Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Ahn, Ji Hyun, Patel, Nilay A., Lin, Charles C., Lee, Thay Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 28.11.2019; BMC; 대한슬관절학회
• Subjects: ALL reconstruction; Anterior cruciate ligament; Anterolateral ligament; Anterolateral tenodesis; Biomechanics; Knee; Knee instability; Ligaments; Magnetic resonance imaging; Review; Surgery; 정형외과학
• ISSN: 2234-2451; 2234-0726; 1225-1623; 2234-2451
• DOI: 10.1186/s43019-019-0012-4

Abstract Residual knee instability and low rates of return to previous sport are major concerns after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. To improve outcomes, surgical methods, such as the anatomical single-bundle technique or the double-bundle technique, were developed. However, these reconstruction techniques failed to adequately overcome these problems, and, therefore, new potential answers continue to be of great interest. Based on recent anatomical and biomechanical studies emphasizing the role of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) in rotational stability, novel surgical methods including ALL reconstruction and anterolateral tenodesis have been introduced with the possibility of resolving residual instability after ACL reconstruction. However, there is still little consensus on many aspects of the ALL, including: several anatomical issues, appropriate indications for ALL surgery, and the optimal surgical method and graft choice for reconstruction surgery. Therefore, further studies are necessary to advance our knowledge of the ALL and its contribution to knee stability.