Elongation Patterns of the Superficial Medial Collateral Ligament and the Posterior Oblique Ligament: A 3-Dimensional, Weightbearing Computed Tomography Simulation

Abstract

Background: Although length change patterns of the medial knee structures have been reported, either the weightbearing state was not considered or quantitative radiographic landmarks that allow the identification of the insertion sites were not reported. Purpose: To (1) analyze the length changes of the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) and posterior oblique ligament (POL) under weightbearing conditions and (2) to identify the femoral sMCL insertion site that demonstrates the smallest length changes during knee flexion and report quantitative radiographic landmarks. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: The authors performed a 3-dimensional (3D) analysis of 10 healthy knees from 0° to 120° of knee flexion using weightbearing computed tomography (CT) scans. Ligament length changes of the sMCL and POL during knee flexion were analyzed using an automatic string generation algorithm. The most isometric femoral insertion of the sMCL that demonstrated the smallest length changes throughout the full range of motion (ROM) was identified. Radiographic landmarks were reported on an isometric grid defined by a true lateral view of the 3D CT model and transferred to a digitally reconstructed radiograph. Results: The sMCL demonstrated small ligament length changes, and the POL demonstrated substantial shortening during knee flexion ( P = .005). Shortening of the POL started from 30° of flexion. The most isometric femoral sMCL insertion was located 0.6 ± 1.7 mm posterior and 0.8 ± 1.2 mm inferior to the center of the sMCL insertion and prevented ligament length changes >5% during knee flexion in all participants. The insertion was located 47.8% ± 2.7% from the anterior femoral cortex and 46.3% ± 1.9% from the joint line on a true lateral 3D CT view. Conclusion: The POL demonstrated substantial shortening starting from 30° of knee flexion and requires tightening near full extension to avoid overconstraint. Femoral sMCL graft placement directly posteroinferior to the center of the anatomical insertion of the sMCL demonstrated the most isometric behavior during knee flexion. Clinical Relevance: The described elongation patterns of the sMCL and POL aid in guiding surgical medial knee reconstruction and preventing graft lengthening and overconstraint of the medial compartment. Repetitive graft lengthening is associated with graft failure, and overconstraint leads to increased compartment pressure, cartilage degeneration, and restricted ROM.