Emily Leyva | Contributing Writer
While performing a macroscopic dissection to observe the major complications with tears in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), (a common sports injury), two doctors, Dr. Claes and Dr. Bellemans managed to discover an entirely new part of the human body.
The new part, now named the anterolateral ligament (ALL) was found in the knee attached to the eponymous Segond fracture. Though Dr. Claes and Dr. Bellemans confirmed the discovery, the ligament was hypothesized nearly 150 years ago by a French surgeon, Paul Segond, who described the part as a “pearly, resistant, fibrous band.”
Since Segond’s theory, no medical records confirmed the existence of the ligament and an anatomical description was never provided—until now. The revelation has been proven by a team of Belgium’s most prestigious surgeons.
In October 2013, a study was published by Dr. Steven Claes, Dr. Evie Vereecke, Dr. Michael Maes, Dr. Jan Victor, Dr. Peter Verdonk, and Dr. Johan Bellemans in the Journal of Anatomy which included Claes’ and Bellemans’ procedures and results that ultimately confirmed Segond’s initial hypothesis.
The study stated, “The (ALL) ligament, was investigated in 41 unpaired, human cadaveric knees. The femoral and tibial attachment of the ALL, its course and its relationship with nearby anatomical structures were studied both qualitatively and quantitatively.”
The ALL was eventually found in 97 percent of the cadaveric knees.
The doctors also wrote, “Given its structure and anatomic location, the ALL is hypothesized to control internal tibial rotation and thus to affect the pivot shift phenomenon (a common complication after ACL rehabilitation), although further studies are needed to investigate its biomechanical function.”
Though not a monumental discovery, this tiny verification of the ALL, clarifies the long-standing enigma surrounding the existence that was hypothesized over a century ago. By defining the characteristics and specifying the location, scientists and doctors are now aware of the ligamentous structure that connects the femur with the anterolateral tibia which can eventually help doctors and patients alike in their physical recovery.
Photo credit: University Hospitals Leuven