ABSTRACT
The knee is an inherently unstable structure consisting of rounded femoral condyles
articulating with a flat tibial plateau. Stability is provided by a complex system
of intra-articular and extraarticular ligaments that resist anterior and posterior
translation, abnormal tibial rotation, and varus and valgus stress. In this article,
the anatomy and biomechanics of the medial and lateral stabilizers, as well as the
mechanisms of injury, clinical examination, and radiographic and magnetic resonance
imaging appearances of injury of these structures, are discussed.
KEYWORDS
MRI - knee - medial collateral ligament - posteromedial joint capsule - fibular collateral
ligament - arcuate complex
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Theodore T MillerM.D.
Department of Radiology and Imaging, Hospital for Special Surgery
535 E. 70th St., New York, NY 10021
eMail: millertt@hss.edu
