Marcelo Rodriguez Abreu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christine B. Chung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Viviane Khoury MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michelle Anna Wessely BS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Debra J. Trudell MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Donald L. Resnick MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to determine the exact sites of origin of the anterior transverse ligament of the knee (TL), and to correlate the presence of this ligament with the occurrence of meniscal tears.

MR imaging studies of 49 knees performed over a one year period in 49 patients who underwent subsequent arthroscopy were reviewed retrospectively by two readers in consensus for the presence and morphology of the TL. The meniscal origin of the TL was determined as follows: 1) from the central core of the anterior horn of the meniscus; 2) from the external portion of the meniscus; 3) or from the joint capsule. The integrity and dimension of the thickest point of the TL were recorded. The relationship of the TL with Hoffa’s fat pad cleft and the ligamentum mucosum was recorded. Arthroscopy results were recorded with regard to the presence and location of meniscal tears. Ten cadaveric specimens underwent MR imaging and subsequently were sectioned for anatomic and histological study.

The TL was present in 73.5% and absent in 26.5% of the MR examinations with a thickness ranging from 1-4.4mm (mean 2 mm, SD 0.9). When present, the TL was complete in 75% and incomplete in 25% of cases. The TL inserted in the medial meniscus in 83.3% (core of the anterior horn in 93.3%, external portion of the anterior horn in 6.7%), and in the lateral meniscus in 91.6% (external portion of the anterior horn in 94%, core of the anterior horn in 6.1%) of cases. A bifid TL was present in 3 cases. The ligamentum mucosum connected to the TL in 44.8%. The TL was located at the vertex of infrapatellar fat pad cleft in 36.7% of the cases. There was a statistical association between the attachment of the TL to the medial meniscus and the presence of a medial meniscal tear (p<0.05).

The TL is a frequent anatomical structure that connects the leading edge of the core of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus to the external portion of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The TL blends with the ligamentum mucosum in many instances and sometimes is incomplete. There is an association between the presence of a TL attached to the medial meniscus and the presence of tears of the medial meniscus.

Abreu, M, Chung, C, Khoury, V, Wessely, M, Trudell, D, Resnick, D, Anterior Transverse Ligament of the Knee: Imaging and Anatomic Study Using Clinical and Cadaveric Material with Emphasis on Its Contribution to Meniscal Tears.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4406659.html