Research progress in anterolateral ligament of knee

Abstract

To review research progress in the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of knee, and provide a clinical reference for diagnosis and treatment of ALL injury. The literature on the diagnosis and treatment of ALL injury was widely reviewed. The incidence, anatomy, biomechanics, injury mechanism, and treatment status of ALL were summarized. The ALL contributes to the effect of controlling the internal rotation and anterior translation of the tibia, which affects the axial migration of the knee. ALL injury can be diagnosed according to the signs and MRI examination. Currently, no consensus exists for the surgical indications of ALL injury, but most surgeons tend to perform ALL reconstruction in patients requiring anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction or revision surgery with higher pivot-shift tests. At present, various techniques have been used for ALL reconstruction, and there is no optimal technique. In addition, the long-term effectiveness of ALL reconstruction is unclear due to the lack of high-quality studies and long-term postoperative follow-up. The ALL contributes to maintaining knee stability, and the ALL reconstruction technique and its effectiveness still need further research.