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Meniscofemoral ligaments revisited

ANATOMICAL STUDY, AGE CORRELATION AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Musculoskeletal Surgery and Bioengineering, Imperial College, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2BX, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr C. M. Gupte.

The meniscofemoral ligaments were studied in 84 fresh-frozen knees from 49 cadavers. Combined anterior and posterior approaches were used to identify the ligaments. In total, 78 specimens (93%) contained at least one meniscofemoral ligament. The anterior meniscofemoral ligament (aMFL) was present in 62 specimens (74%), and the posterior meniscofemoral ligament (pMFL) in 58 (69%). The 42 specimens (50%) in which both ligaments were present were from a significantly younger population than that with one MFL or none (p < 0.05). Several anatomical variations were identified, including oblique fibres of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which were seen in 16 specimens (19%). These were termed the ‘false pMFL’.

The high incidence of MFLs and their anatomical variations should be borne in mind during arthroscopic and radiological examination of the PCL. It is important to recognise the oblique fibres of the PCL on MRI in order to avoid wrongly identifying them as either a pMFL or a tear of the lateral meniscus. The increased incidence of MFLs in younger donors suggests that they degenerate with age.