Anatomical study of the lateral collateral ligament and its circumference structures in the human knee joint.

Thirty-six cadavers (55 sides) were used to observe the innervation of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and its circumference structures with gross anatomical and histological methods to clarify the cause of indistinct pain in the lateral part of the knee joint. The innervating branches of the LCL could be divided into three types: (1) from the muscular branch of the biceps femoris muscle at lower 1/3 level of the thigh; (2) from the common fibular nerve (CFN) at the higher level of the fossa poplitea; (3) from the CFN at the level of the caput fibular. Furthermore, the three branches could singly or plurally distribute to the LCL (six types). Two of the connecting tissue membranes surrounding the surface of LCL formed an incomplete sheath structure, and a shutting "gap" was observed between the two membranes. Fine peripheral nervous branches were also observed in the two of the membranes. On the other hand, three types of nerve endings in the LCL (Type I/Ruffini mechanoreceptor; Type III/Golgi mechanoreceptor; Type IV/free nerve ending) were observed, and their presence was consistent with the ankle joint of humans. Therefore, the innervation of the two membranes (to form the shutting gap) in the surface of LCL may be associated with an indistinct pain when the knee joint is damaged.

Portal safety and efficacy of anterior subtalar arthroscopy: a cadaveric study.

Anterior subtalar arthroscopy was performed in 14 feet of 7 cadaveric bodies using the primary visualization and working portals. The cartilage of the anterior/middle calcaneal facet that can be reached was marked. The feet were dissected and the distances between the portals and surrounding cutaneous nerves were measured. Any damage to the ligaments of the sinus tarsi was noted. The percentage area of the articular cartilage that was marked was measured. In all specimens, the primary visualization portal tract passed through the lateral root of the inferior extensor retinaculum. The primary working portal tract passed through the lateral root in nine specimens (64%). Cervical ligament was intact in all specimens. In three specimens (21%), the primary visualization portal tract passed through the posterior edge of the intermediate root of the inferior extensor retinaculum. The interosseous talocalcaneal ligament was intact in all specimens. The primary visualization portal tract passed through the medial root of the inferior extensor retinaculum in eight specimens (57%). The primary working portal tract passed through the medial root of the inferior extensor retinaculum in one specimen. The average working area on the calcaneal facet was 95% +/- 4% of the total articular surface. There was no case of nerve injury in all specimens. In conclusion, anterior subtalar arthroscopy is a minimally invasive approach to deal with pathologies of this joint without the need of extensive resection of the ligamentous structures of the sinus tarsi.

Autonomic innervation of tendons, ligaments and joint capsules. A morphologic and quantitative study in the rat.

We analyzed the neuronal occurrence of autonomic transmitters; noradrenaline (NA), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), in the Achilles tendon, medial and lateral collateral ligaments and knee joint capsule in the rat--by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, the tissue concentrations of the sympathetic neuropeptide, NPY, and the parasympathetic peptide, VIP, were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IHC demonstrated nerve fibers containing sympathetic vasoconstrictors--NA and NPY--and the parasympathetic vasodilator, VIP, in all tissues. NPY- and NA-positive nerve fibers were predominantly observed in larger blood vessels, whereas, nerve fibers immunoreactive to VIP were found in smaller vessels. In many nerve fibers a co-localization of the transmitters was seen. RIA showed that the concentration of NPY compared to VIP was 15-times higher in ligaments and twice as high in tendons and capsules. The differences noted may reflect a difference in vulnerability to degenerative conditions. In pathological conditions, dysregulation of autonomic transmitters in hypovascularized tissues subjected to repetitive mechanical load may contribute to tissue hypoxia leading to degeneration and rupture of tendons and ligaments.

Mechanoreceptors in the human elbow ligaments.

The medial, annular, and lateral elbow ligaments from 6 fresh human cadavers were dissected from origin to insertion, stained, and examined with a light microscope to determine the existence of mechanoreceptors. It was shown that the anterior, posterior, and transverse medial ligaments as well as the annular and radial collateral ligaments were endowed with mechanoreceptors. The mechanoreceptors consisted of Golgi organs, Ruffini terminals, Pacinian corpuscles, and free nerve endings. The mechanoreceptors were distributed evenly throughout the annular and transverse medial ligament, but with increased density toward the origin and distal insertions in the radial, posterior, and anterior medial ligaments. It was concluded that the elbow ligaments may provide significant sensory function to the elbow joint, in addition to being its major mechanical restraints.

Spatial variation in sympathetic influences on the vasculature of the synovium and medial collateral ligament of the rabbit knee joint.

1. Laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to assess the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the control of blood flow to the medial collateral ligament and capsule (synovium and overlying fibrous tissues) of the rabbit knee joint. 2. Electrical stimulation of the saphenous nerve (width 1 ms; amplitude 20V; 1-30 Hz) produced a frequency-dependent vasoconstriction of knee joint vasculature. The response was maximal at 30 Hz and gave the greatest fall in perfusion at the femoral insertion of the ligament (by 33.8 +/- 7.4%, mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 5-6) and the smallest decrease at the tibial insertion of the ligament (by 10.6 +/- 2.9%). 3. Topical application of phentolamine (10(-6) mol) had no significant effect on basal knee joint blood flow. However, it abolished the nerve-mediated constrictor responses in all regions of the medial collateral ligament and synovium at all frequencies. 4. Topical administration of adrenaline (10(-14) to 10(-7) mol) caused a dose-dependent decrease in knee joint blood flow with the highest dose producing > 75% reduction in perfusion at all areas. 5. There was no evidence of a reactive hyperaemia in the 5 min following a 5 min period of femoral artery occlusion. Artificial manipulation of arterial blood pressure by intravenous infusion or withdrawal of blood caused a proportional change in ligament and synovial blood flow. These observations may indicate a lack of autoregulation in the joint and its exclusion from baroreflex modulation. 6. These results suggest a potential role for the sympathetic nervous system in the control of knee joint blood flow. Neuromodulation of ligament perfusion appears to predominate at the femoral insertion and this could prove to have functional significance.

Morphological and immunohistochemical examination of nerves in normal and injured collateral ligaments of rat, rabbit, and human knee joints.

BACKGROUND: Knee joints possess an abundant nerve supply that relays sensory and motor information on such aspects as proprioception, nociception, and vasoregulation. Although synovial innervation has been well documented, little is known of the nerves that supply the collateral ligaments. METHODS: The morphology of rabbit and human collateral ligament nerves was examined by silver impregnation. Immunohistochemistry was performed on rabbit and rat collateral ligaments to determine the presence of peptidergic nerves in these tissues. A 6-week gap injury was performed on three rabbit medial collateral ligaments, and the localisation of peptidergic nerves in these tissues was determined. RESULTS: Irrespective of species or type of ligament examined, the greatest density of nerve fibres was found in the epiligament. Nerve fibres commonly accompanied blood vessels along the long axis of the ligament and then entered the substance of the tissue before ramifying in the deeper layers. Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were found in the collateral ligaments of the rat and rabbit. Injured ligaments showed a higher than normal level of immunoreactivity in and around the healing zone; however, the nerve fibres appeared tangled and truncated. CONCLUSIONS: Like other structures in knee joints, collateral ligaments possess a complex nerve supply. The presence of peptidergic nerves suggests that ligaments may be susceptible to neurogenic inflammation and may be centres of articular nociception.

Ligamentomuscular protective reflex in the elbow.

A reflex are from the medial elbow ligaments to the forearm pronator muscles was shown to exist in the feline model. A single articular branch emerging from the median nerve and converging on the medial collateral ligament was identified and stimulated with supramaximal pulses of 100 microseconds duration at a rate of 10 pulses/s. Stimulation of the articular nerve elicited myoelectric activity in the flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, and pronator teres. Transection of the articular nerve between the electrodes and the median nerve resulted in the disappearance of any myoelectric activity in the muscles, thus confirming the afferent nature of the articular nerve. The mean time delay from the application of the stimulus to the corresponding myoelectric discharge ranged from 3.2 to 5.8 ms for the 5 muscles. The existence of a fast-acting reflex arc from the medial elbow ligaments to the forearm muscles both confirms the concept of ligamentomuscular protective synergy (shown to exist in the knee, shoulder, and ankle joints) and extends it to the elbow. This reflex arc has significant implications for both the planning of elbow surgery while preserving the neural supply of the ligaments and for the planning of postsurgical or conservative therapeutic rehabilitation modalities.

A muscle-splitting approach to the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow. Neuroanatomy and operative technique.

The standard surgical approach for repair or reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow involves lifting off of the tendon of the common flexor bundle at its origin on the medial epicondyle. However, a more limited muscle-splitting approach may be feasible. A muscle-splitting approach is less traumatic to the flexor-pronator muscle mass, and it could decrease operative time and lessen immediate morbidity after surgery. A proposed muscle-split through the common flexor bundle extends from the medial humeral epicondyle to a point distal to the tubercle of the ulna such that repair or reconstruction can be performed on the ulnar collateral ligament. To examine the feasibility of this approach, we performed a study combining anatomic dissections with clinical observations. We dissected 15 fresh-frozen adult cadaveric elbows to examine the neuroanatomy of the medial side of the elbow. All pertinent nerves were identified and mapped. From these data, we defined a "safe zone" for a muscle-splitting approach to the ulnar collateral ligament that allows adequate room for repair or reconstruction of the ligament without risking denervation of the surrounding musculature. The safe zone extends from the medial humeral epicondyle to approximately 1 cm distal to the insertion of the ulnar collateral ligament on the tubercle of the ulna. Twenty-two patients with ulnar collateral ligament tears underwent either a direct repair or a reconstruction of the ligament using the proposed muscle-splitting approach. With a minimum followup of 1 year, there was no clinical evidence of muscle denervation. From the combined anatomic study and clinical data, we believe that a less traumatic muscle-splitting approach to the ulnar collateral ligament affords a safe and simple surgical approach for repair or reconstruction of the ligament.

Selective muscle activation following electrical stimulation of the collateral ligaments of the human knee joint.

The objective of this study was to establish the presence of a local neurosensory reflex are from mechanoreceptors in human collateral ligaments and joint capsule to knee muscles and to determine if these muscles could be selectively activated as varus or valgus stabilizers using randomized trials. All studies were performed in the research department laboratories. Eleven subjects were recruited from the university staff and students based on no prior history of knee ailments. Subjects laid supine on an experimentation table as a current-modulated electrical stimulation was provided through the medial (MCL) or lateral collateral (LCL) knee ligaments. Latency of activation was measured for seven muscles, four by surface electrodes (semitendinosus, biceps femoris long head, vastus medialis, and lateralis), and three by intramuscular electrodes (sartorius, gracilis, tensor fascia lata). In the protocol, selective activation was defined as the relative increase in the activity of four muscles with medial moment arms following MCL stimulation compared with corresponding activity following LCL stimulation. For lateral muscles, the opposite was assumed (ie, that more activity would follow LCL than MCL stimulation). Monte Carlo simulations were performed on the data to determine significant selective muscle activation (p < .05). Statistically significant increases in activation were observed, most consistently, in the vastus medialis following MCL stimulation and in the vastus lateralis following LCL stimulation. These results suggest that a neurosensory reflex are from ligament mechanoreceptors may provide varus and valgus stabilization and knee muscles may be selectively activated to counter varus or valgus loads.

On the collateral sesamoidean (suspensory navicular) ligament of equines: topographic relations and sensitive innervation.

The origin and course of the collateral sesamoidean (suspensory navicular) ligament of the horse and ass and its attachment to the distal sesamoid bone were studied by means of dissection. Particular attention was given to the topographic relations between this ligament and the deep digital flexor tendon. Numerous sensitive nerve endings are present in this anatomical district. The free and encapsulated nerve endings, displayed by impregnating techniques, are mostly concentrated in the ligament tract connected to the above-named tendon and close to its attachment to the distal sesamoid angle. The nerve endings are identified as typical Pacini, Pacini-like and Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles on account of their morphological features and are found isolated, grouped to form flower-sprays, lined up along the course of a single nerve fibre or grouped to originate poikilomorphous fibres.