Prevalence and morphometric characteristics of the anterolateral ligament of the knee in a sample of Colombian human cadaversand morphometric characteristics of the anterolateral ligament of the knee in a sample of Colombian human cadavers

Abstract

Introduction: Even though the anatomy of the knee and its ligaments are well characterized in the literature, several studies have found new structures associated with this joint, such as the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee. The prevalence of this ligament varies significantly across the globe, and studies addressing this topic in the Colombian population are scarce. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the ALL and its morphometric characteristics in a sample of Colombian human cadavers. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study in which the knee joints of 15 human cadavers were dissected and analyzed. In order to preserve the integrity of anatomical structures such as ligaments and tendons, specimens should not have undergone previous dissections, so only 29 knees were included for analysis. The presence of the ligament was confirmed, and the proximal and distal insertion site, as well as its length and width, were established through dissection. Results: The prevalence of ALL was 24.13%, as it was identified in 7 of the 29 dissected knees (4 left and 3 right knees). The average length and width of the ALLs found were 37.5mm (range: 24-52.4mm) and 3.9mm (range: 2.6-6mm), respectively. Conclusions: This study allowed confirming the presence of the ALL in the Colombian population, although with a lower prevalence than that described in countries such as France, India, China, USA, and Brazil. In turn, its morphometric characteristics were similar to those reported worldwide, since the average length and width found here are consistent with those described in the literature.

Keywords

• Knee
• Cadaver
• Dissection