Characteristic of the anterolateral ligament of the knee and its correlation with trauma of the anterior cruciate ligament in athletes

Patrycja Szkutnik, Marcin Domżalski

P. Szkutnik, M. Domżalski: Characteristic of the anterolateral ligament of the knee and its correlation with trauma of the anterior cruciate ligament in athletes. FP 2015;15(4);74-81

Abstract

Traumas of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are the most common injuries of a knee joint in athletes. We diagnose them by specific clinical tests – Lachman test, anterior drawer test, pivot-shift test and additional imaging studies. Form of the treatment is to reconstruct the ligament with a graft taken muscle. After treatment, there is still a problem with the rotational instability. Only 60% of the athletes returned to pre-injury form. This is due to anterolateral ligament (ALL) of knee. It is a ligament that occurs in approximately 95% of the population. It’s located on the anterolateral side of the knee joint which connects the femur with the tibia bone, it is responsible for rotational stability of the knee, especially when bent knee (30-90 deg) and it`s supports the function of the ACL. ALL trauma that may be asymptomatic, they can imply subsequently breaking of the ACL. However, when ACL is ruptured, almost always the ALL is damaged too. Ruptures and damages of ALL have a connection with Segond fractures. Undetected damage of ALL causes treatment failure of the anterior cruciate ligament injuries. It should be taken into consideration that with concomitant ACL and ALL injuries conservative treatment of damaged ALL is enough for treatment and rehabilitation success or if reconstruction of the ALL also necessary. The aim of the study is to highlight the widespread problem of knee injuries in athletes and how they should be treated so it will lead to full recovery of the competitor and his/her faster return to the game.

Key words:
knee joint, anterolateral ligament of the knee, anterior cruciate ligament, characteristic, trauma

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