Abstract
Quantitative knowledge on the anatomy of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is important for preventing MCL damage during unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The objective of this study was to quantitatively determine the morphology of the medial capsule and deep MCL on tibias.
METHODS
24 cadaveric human knees (control: 19, OA: 5) were dissected to investigate the deep MCL and capsule anatomy. The specimens were fixed in full extension and this position was maintained during the dissection and morphometric measurements. The distance from the tibial insertion sites of the medial capsule including deep MCL to the medial joint surface were measured at anterior, middle, and posterior sites. Posterior capsule slope and posterior tibia slope to the anterior tibia cortex was also measured.
RESULTS
In control, the distance from the tibia insertion sites of the medial capsule including deep MCL to the anterior 1/3, middle 1/3, and posterior 1/3 of medial joint surface were 12.5 ± 1.5 mm and 8.0 ± 1.6 mm and 9.4 ± 1.6 mm, respectively. Posterior capsule slope and posterior tibia slope to the anterior tibia cortex were 6.3 ± 3.3 degree and 12.7 ± 2.1 degree, respectively. In OA, the distance from the tibia insertion sites of the medial capsule including deep MCL to the anterior 1/3, middle 1/3, and posterior 1/3 of medial joint surface were 14.0 ± 1.7 mm and 9.6 ± 1.9 mm and 10.8 ± 1.5 mm, respectively. Posterior capsule slope and posterior tibia slope to the anterior tibia cortex were 8.0 ± 3.5 degree and 14.5 ± 2.2 degree, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The morphologic data on the medial capsule and deep MCL may provide useful information for preventing MCL damage during UKA surgical procedure.
