The reference point to measure the anterior intermeniscal ligament's thickness: an MRI study.

The purpose of this study was to identify a reliable reference point for measuring anterior intermeniscal ligament thickness and to investigate the morphological characteristics of the ligament at its attachment site to anterior horns of both menisci by MRI. MRI was performed in 98 knees of randomly chosen patients. The anterior intermeniscal ligament was detected in 61 knees (62.2%). The average ligament length was 29.8 mm. Men had significantly longer anterior intermeniscal ligament than women patients (32.5 vs. 27.8 mm). The thickness of anterior intermeniscal ligaments at their attachment sites to menisci was usually less than 3 mm; a thickness of 3 mm or more at the attachment site to anterior horns of the meniscus was defined as "cordlike." It is suggested that the "cordlike" pattern is a variation of the anterior intermeniscal ligament's attachment characteristics, and that this might have a significant role in meniscal translations during knee motion, and also that the "cordlike" pattern could be clinically important with respect to its relationship to the anterior horn of medial meniscus. The attachment site of the ligament is a reliable reference point for measuring its thickness.