open access

Vol 77, No 2 (2018)
Original article
Submitted: 2018-01-11
Accepted: 2018-03-10
Published online: 2018-03-15
Get Citation

An anatomical study of the origin, structure and insertion of the medial patellofemoral ligament

C.-H. Li1, D. Ricketts2, X.-S. Wang1, T.-B. Yu3, C. Qi3, Y.-L. Zhu4
·
Pubmed: 29569702
·
Folia Morphol 2018;77(2):356-361.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Orthopedics,People’s Hospital of Rizhao Affiliated To Jining Medical University, Rizhao, China
  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopedics,Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Bighton, United Kingdom
  3. Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
  4. department of Orthopedics,Shandong Province Western Hospital, Jinan, China

open access

Vol 77, No 2 (2018)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2018-01-11
Accepted: 2018-03-10
Published online: 2018-03-15

Abstract

Background: Repair and reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament
(MPFL) has been undertaken for the treatment of patellar instability. For successful
surgery detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the ligament is required. The aim
of this study was to describe the origin, structure and insertion of the MPFL.


Materials and methods: We studied cadaveric knees from 30 Chinese adults.
We studied the origin, course and insertion of the MPFL.


Results: We found that the MPFL was composed of two main strands, superficial
and deep. We also found that the insertion of the MPFL into the femur had three
common patterns. All three were located between the adductor tubercle and the
proximal part of superficial medial collateral ligament.


Conclusions: We have added to the anatomical knowledge of the structure of
the MPFL. Our study has implications for guiding bone tunnel positioning during
MPFL reconstruction surgery. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 356–361)

Abstract

Background: Repair and reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament
(MPFL) has been undertaken for the treatment of patellar instability. For successful
surgery detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the ligament is required. The aim
of this study was to describe the origin, structure and insertion of the MPFL.


Materials and methods: We studied cadaveric knees from 30 Chinese adults.
We studied the origin, course and insertion of the MPFL.


Results: We found that the MPFL was composed of two main strands, superficial
and deep. We also found that the insertion of the MPFL into the femur had three
common patterns. All three were located between the adductor tubercle and the
proximal part of superficial medial collateral ligament.


Conclusions: We have added to the anatomical knowledge of the structure of
the MPFL. Our study has implications for guiding bone tunnel positioning during
MPFL reconstruction surgery. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 356–361)

Get Citation

Keywords

medial patellofemoral ligament, anatomy, reconstruction surgery

About this article
Title

An anatomical study of the origin, structure and insertion of the medial patellofemoral ligament

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 77, No 2 (2018)

Article type

Original article

Pages

356-361

Published online

2018-03-15

Page views

4350

Article views/downloads

1353

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2018.0028

Pubmed

29569702

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2018;77(2):356-361.

Keywords

medial patellofemoral ligament
anatomy
reconstruction surgery

Authors

C.-H. Li
D. Ricketts
X.-S. Wang
T.-B. Yu
C. Qi
Y.-L. Zhu

References (22)
  1. Amis AA, Firer P, Mountney J, et al. Anatomy and biomechanics of the medial patellofemoral ligament. Knee. 2003; 10(3): 215–220.
  2. Aragão JA, Reis FP, de Vasconcelos DP, et al. Metric measurements and attachment levels of the medial patellofemoral ligament: an anatomical study in cadavers. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2008; 63(4): 541–544.
  3. Avikainen V, Nikku R, Seppänenlehmonen T. Adductor magnus tenodesis for patellar dislocation. Clin Orthopaedics Related Res. 1993; &NA;(297): 12???16.
  4. Burks R, Luker M. Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Techniques Orthopaedics. 1997; 12(3): 185–191.
  5. Conlan T, Garth WP, Lemons JE. Evaluation of the medial soft-tissue restraints of the extensor mechanism of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg. 1993; 75(5): 682–693.
  6. Drez D, Edwards TB, Williams CS. Results of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction in the treatment of patellar dislocation. Arthroscopy. 2001; 17(3): 298–306.
  7. Du H, Tian XX, Guo FQ, et al. Evaluation of different surgical methods in treating recurrent patella dislocation after three-dimensional reconstruction. Int Orthop. 2017; 41(12): 2517–2524.
  8. Feller JA, Feagin JA, Garrett WE. The medial patellofemoral ligament revisited: an anatomical study. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 1993; 1(3-4): 184–186.
  9. Hautamaa PV, Fithian DC, Kaufman KR, et al. Medial soft tissue restraints in lateral patellar instability and repair. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1998(349): 174–182.
  10. Kaplan EB. Factors responsible for the stability of the knee joint. Bull Hosp Joint Dis. 1957; 18(1): 51–59.
  11. Muneta T, Sekiya I, Tsuchiya M, et al. A technique for reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1999(359): 151–155.
  12. Nomura E, Horiuchi Y, Kihara M. A mid-term follow-up of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction using an artificial ligament for recurrent patellar dislocation. The Knee. 2000; 7(4): 211–215.
  13. Nomura E, Inoue M, Osada N. Anatomical analysis of the medial patellofemoral ligament of the knee, especially the femoral attachment. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2005; 13(7): 510–515.
  14. Panagiotopoulos E, Strzelczyk P, Herrmann M, et al. Cadaveric study on static medial patellar stabilizers: the dynamizing role of the vastus medialis obliquus on medial patellofemoral ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2006; 14(1): 7–12.
  15. Sanders TG, Morrison WB, Singleton BA, et al. Medial patellofemoral ligament injury following acute transient dislocation of the patella: MR findings with surgical correlation in 14 patients. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2001; 25(6): 957–962.
  16. Smirk C, Morris H. The anatomy and reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament. Knee. 2003; 10(3): 221–227.
  17. Steensen RN, Dopirak RM, McDonald WG. The anatomy and isometry of the medial patellofemoral ligament: implications for reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 2004; 32(6): 1509–1513.
  18. Tanaka MJ, Voss A, Fulkerson JP. The Anatomic Midpoint of the Attachment of the Medial Patellofemoral Complex. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2016; 98(14): 1199–1205.
  19. Tanaka MJ. Variability in the Patellar Attachment of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament. Arthroscopy. 2016; 32(8): 1667–1670.
  20. Tuxøe JI, Teir M, Winge S, et al. The medial patellofemoral ligament: a dissection study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2002; 10(3): 138–140.
  21. Warren LF, Marshall JL. The supporting structures and layers on the medial side of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg. 1979; 61(1): 56–62.
  22. Yu CS, Xuan Y, Li KC. Anatomic study of the medial patellar retinaculum and its clinical implication. Chinese J Clin Anat. 2004; 22(3): 263–265.

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., Grupa Via Medica, Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk, Poland

tel.: +48 58 320 94 94, faks: +48 58 320 94 60, e-mail: viamedica@viamedica.pl