This document discusses knee joint injuries, including: - The medial collateral ligament is most commonly torn from lateral impacts on the knee. Tears often involve the anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus as well. - The lateral meniscus is less commonly injured than the medial meniscus due to its increased mobility. - MRI is useful for assessing potential tears to ligaments and menisci. - Dislocations of the knee can cause injuries to the popliteal artery and common peroneal nerve.

1. Dr.AkramJaffar
Imaging Anatomy of Fractures and Dislocations inImaging Anatomy of Fractures and Dislocations in
the Lower Limbthe Lower Limb
Knee joint injuriesKnee joint injuries
Akram Jaffar, Ph.D.
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References and suggested reading
• Ellis H (2006): Clinical anatomy, A revision and applied anatomy for clinical students.
11th
Ed. Blackwell Publishing. Massachusetts.
• Moore KL et al. (2013): Clinically Orientated Anatomy. 7th Ed. Lippincott, Williams &
Wilkins. Philadelphia.
• Hamblen DL & Simpson HRW (2007): Adam’s outline of fractures including joint
injuries. 12th
ed. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Edinburgh.
• Solomon L, Warwick DJ & Nayagam S (2001): Apley's System of Orthopedics and
Fractures. 8th ed. Arnold Publishing.

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Objectives
After completion of this session, students should be able to discuss, identify, and
describe:
• The anatomical factors predisposing to the etiology of a fracture or dislocation.
• The anatomy of displacement or deformity.
• Imaging anatomy features and how to differentiate from epiphyseal lines.
• Anatomy related to correct relocation and alignment.
• Anatomical complications of a fracture or dislocation.

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Knee injury
• 3 Cs may be damaged: Collateral ligaments,
Cruciate ligaments, and Cartilage (menisci).
• The medial collateral ligament is most likely to be
torn; this results from a lateral hit on the knee
abducting the femur on the tibia.
• Rupture of the tibial collateral ligament is often
associated with tearing of the anterior cruciate
ligament (weaker ligament) and tearing of the
medial meniscus which is firmly attached to
medial collateral ligament.
Ant cruciate
Med. meniscus
TCL
TCL
Ant cruciate
Med. meniscus
Twisted semiflexed knee

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Knee injury
• Injury to the lateral meniscus is 20 times
less common than the medial meniscus
because the lateral meniscus is more
mobile than the medial meniscus:
– It is not attached to the lateral collateral
ligament
– Popliteus muscle sends few fibers into
the lateral meniscus
– Attached to the femur by the
meniscofemoral ligaments
• The lateral meniscus may be pulled out of
harms way during sudden movements of
the knee.
FCL
FCL
Meniscofemoral lig
Popliteus
tendon
Lat. meniscus
Popliteus
tendon

6. Dr.AkramJaffar
Knee injury
• MRI provides a full
assessment of
potential meniscus,
cruciate, and
collateral ligament
tears.
Torn anterior cruciate lig. Normal
Normal
Torn medial meniscus
Torn medial collateral lig.
femur
tibia
patella
Infrapatellar pad of fat
Ant. cruciate lig.

7. Dr.AkramJaffar
Dislocation of the knee joint
• Anatomical complication
– Injury of the popliteal artery.
– Injury of the common peroneal nerve.
Common peroneal n.
Tibial n.
Popliteal a.
femur
tibia
fibula
patella
femur
tibia
patella
Infrapatellar pad of fat