The anterior intermeniscal ligament of the knee - An anatomic study

The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of the anterior inte rmeniscal ligament of the knee and to study its attachment patterns and rel ationships to other anatomic structures within the knee. Fifty unpaired cad averic knees were dissected. An identifiably distinct anterior intermenisca l ligament was found in 47 specimens (94%), The average length was 33 mm an d the average midsubstance width was 3.3 mm. The average perpendicular dist ance from the anterior intermeniscal ligament to the anterior margin of the tibial insertion of the anterior cruciate ligament was 7.8 mm (range, 2.0 to 13.5). The anterior intermeniscal ligament was the primary attachment fo r the anterior horn of the medial meniscus in 12 knees (24%); 7 knees (14%) had no tibial insertion and 5 knees (10%) had only a fine fascial tibial c onnection. Successful arthroscopic evaluation, surgical repair, and menisca l allograft reconstruction can be enhanced by a precise knowledge of the an terior intermeniscal ligament anatomy, especially when identifying the vari ous insertion patterns of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus. A corre ct understanding of these patterns is helpful for avoiding patient injury d uring surgical procedures (particularly arthroscopic ACL reconstructions) p erformed in close proximity to the anterior intermeniscal ligament of the k nee.