Abstract
Background
The goal of this study was to investigate the kinematic relationship between medial
plica and medial femoral condyle during knee motion.
Methods
I prospectively selected 30 knees which had different size of medial plica from patients
underwent arthroscopic surgery over a one-year-period. I located the inner margins
of these plicae by inserting needles percutaneously under direct vision during arthroscopic
examination. The topographic changes of the margins of these plicae during knee motion
were recorded by fluoroscopy and analyzed.
Findings
Three types of medial plicae were defined by their size. In all types of the medial
plicae, shifting (rubbing, sliding) medially was found when the knee was moved from
extension to flexion. They remained in contact with the medial femoral condyles during
the whole range of motion.
Interpretation
This observation disclosed the kinematic relationship of the medial plica with the
medial femoral condyle during knee motion in vivo. This pattern of medial–lateral
motion may generate some shearing force acting on the cartilage of the medial femoral
condyle. The conclusion of this study may draw more attention to the role of medial
plica in the pathogenesis of degeneration of the cartilage on the medial femoral condyle
of the knee joint.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 17, 2007
Accepted:
August 1,
2007
Received:
March 2,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
