Medial patellofemoral ligament anatomy: implications for its surgical reconstruction

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 475 - 479
• Main Authors: Philippot, Rémi, Chouteau, J., Wegrzyn, J., Testa, R., Fessy, M. H., Moyen, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.05.2009; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Accuracy; Aged; Analysis; Anatomy; Bioengineering; Cadaver; Femur - anatomy & histology; Femur - surgery; Humans; Knee; Knee Joint - anatomy & histology; Knee Joint - surgery; Knees; Life Sciences; Ligaments; Measurement; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee - anatomy & histology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Orthopedics; Patellar Ligament - anatomy & histology; Patellar Ligament - surgery; Quadriceps Muscle - anatomy & histology; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Reproducibility; Sports; Surgery; Variance analysis; France; Orthonormal frame; Medial patellofemoral ligament; Femoral medial epicondyle; Tubercle of the great adductor muscle; BIOMECANIQUE
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-009-0722-3

The purpose of the present study, based on 23 cadaveric knees, was to perform a detailed anatomical analysis of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), especially its femoral attachment, its relationships with the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and the medial collateral ligament, with the objective of improving its surgical reconstruction. The femoral insertion of the MPFL was defined using an orthonormal frame centered on the middle of the femoral MPFL insertion. The whole measurements were taken using a millimetric compass with a precision of ±1 mm. The MPFL was always observed, its length was 57.7 ± 5.8 mm, the junction between the VMO and the MPFL always present measured 25.7 ± 6.0 mm. When it comes to MPFL reconstruction, the key point is its positioning in the femoral insertion because it is this insertion that is going to restore isometry. By using the orthonormal frame it has to be positioned 10 mm behind the medial epicondyle and 10 mm distal to the adductor tubercle.