Konstantinos Natsis1, Theofilos Karasavvidis2, Dimitris Kola2, Stavros Papadopoulos2, Trifon Totlis3. 1. Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece. 2. School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece. 3. Department of Anatomy and Surgical Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece. totlis@auth.gr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The present study is a systematic review of a relatively unknown structure of the posterolateral corner of the knee, the meniscofibular ligament (MFL), aiming at summarizing and broadening current scientific knowledge regarding this ligament anatomy, function, imaging and injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline (PubMed) and Cochrane Library databases were reviewed for every kind of study reporting on the MFL through December 2019. Due to between-study differences in (anatomy, function, imaging, injury) examining the ligament, the findings were summarized from each study, but the results were not pooled. RESULTS: The MFL is a ligament extending between the inferolateral portion of lateral meniscus, just anterior to the popliteus tendon, and the fibular head. It provides stability to the posterolateral corner of the knee joint, it can be demonstrated in magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance arthrography and has a potential role in lateral meniscus injuries. Further research is required to clearly understand the prognosis and management of MFL injury. CONCLUSION: The current systematic review, focusing only on the MFL of the knee, summarizes the existing knowledge on anatomy, gross morphology, histology, function, biomechanics and imaging and contributes to the further understanding of the MFL.
PURPOSE: The present study is a systematic review of a relatively unknown structure of the posterolateral corner of the knee, the meniscofibular ligament (MFL), aiming at summarizing and broadening current scientific knowledge regarding this ligament anatomy, function, imaging and injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. Medline (PubMed) and Cochrane Library databases were reviewed for every kind of study reporting on the MFL through December 2019. Due to between-study differences in (anatomy, function, imaging, injury) examining the ligament, the findings were summarized from each study, but the results were not pooled. RESULTS: The MFL is a ligament extending between the inferolateral portion of lateral meniscus, just anterior to the popliteus tendon, and the fibular head. It provides stability to the posterolateral corner of the knee joint, it can be demonstrated in magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance arthrography and has a potential role in lateral meniscus injuries. Further research is required to clearly understand the prognosis and management of MFL injury. CONCLUSION: The current systematic review, focusing only on the MFL of the knee, summarizes the existing knowledge on anatomy, gross morphology, histology, function, biomechanics and imaging and contributes to the further understanding of the MFL.