The posterolateral corner of the knee is a complex of structures including the lateral collateral ligament, popliteus tendon, popliteofibular ligament, posterolateral capsule, and arcuate ligament that together resist varus forces and external tibial rotation. PLC injuries frequently accompany ACL and PCL tears in high-energy knee trauma, and failure to diagnose and repair the PLC is the most common cause of ACL and PCL graft failure.
| Origin | Fibular head, lateral tibial condyle, and lateral femoral condyle |
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| Insertion | Multiple attachments forming the posterolateral corner complex |
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Resists varus angulation, external rotation and posterior translation of the tibia at the posterolateral knee.
The dial test (external tibial rotation test at 30 and 90 degrees) is the key physical examination manoeuvre for PLC injuries: more than 10 degrees of side-to-side difference at 30 degrees implicates the PLC, and an additional increase at 90 degrees suggests concurrent PCL injury. The external rotation recurvatum test (lifting the leg by the great toe) shows hyperextension, varus and external rotation in combined PLC and cruciate injury. PLC injuries are frequently missed in multiligament knee injuries. Acute injuries are best repaired or reconstructed within about 3 weeks, while chronic PLC deficiency requires reconstruction using graft tissue.
Combined LCL, popliteus tendon, and popliteofibular ligament disruption from varus contact force producing posterolateral instability confirmed by the dial test, requiring primary repair or reconstruction to prevent recurrent instability.
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