The posterolateral knee capsule is the primary containment structure of the posterolateral corner, reinforced by the arcuate ligament, LCL, popliteus, and popliteofibular ligament. Its contribution to posterolateral stability means that isolated capsular laxity from stretch injury can produce chronic posterolateral instability even when the discrete ligamentous structures appear intact on MRI.
| Origin | Lateral femoral condyle and posterior tibia |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Arcuate ligament, fibular head, and posterior tibial condyle |
| Actions | Posterolateral knee stability — resists external tibial rotation and posterior translation in combination with the PLC structures |
|---|
The posterolateral capsule is assessed by the external rotation recurvatum test — the patient lies supine and the examiner lifts the great toe; a positive test shows the knee recurvating with external tibial rotation indicating posterolateral capsular laxity. Combined with the dial test, posterolateral capsular assessment guides surgical reconstruction planning.
Posterolateral knee capsule attenuation producing external rotation recurvatum assessed by the ER recurvatum and dial tests.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
