Transverse ligament and its effect on meniscal motion - Correlation of kinematic MR imaging and anatomic sections

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. To evaluate the effect of the transverse ligament on translation of the menisci. METHODS. Six cadaveric knees were examined by MR imaging inside a positioni ng device before and after transecting the transverse ligament. The knees w ere examined at various positions: extension, 30 degrees of flexion, 60 deg rees of flexion, and full flexion. Sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo images we re generated at each knee position and evaluated for statistical difference s with regard to anterior-posterior meniscal excursion. RESULTS. Statistically significant differences in meniscal excursion were f ound before and after transsecting the transverse ligament for anterior-pos terior meniscal motion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus at 30 de grees of knee flexion. No such significant differences were found, however, at 60 degrees of flexion and full flexion in anterior-posterior meniscal e xcursion of the anterior or posterior horn of either meniscus before and af ter transsecting the transverse ligament. CONCLUSIONS. The transverse ligament has a restricting effeet on anterior-p osterior excursion of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus at lower deg rees of knee flexion.