Anatomy Lesson: Real Human Knee Dissection

Highlights

• Dissection Focus: Real human knee, known for its detailed anatomical exposure.

• Common Issues:

  • Knee pain from arthritis and injuries such as mild sprains to ACL tears.
  • Detailing of treatment options including surgical grafts using personal or cadaver tissues.

Anatomy

• Key Structures:

  • Patella: Kneecap, indicating the anterior side.
  • Femur and Tibia: Key bones contributing to the knee joint structure.
  • Fibula: Lateral bone of the lower leg.

• Ligaments:

  • MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament): Located on the knee's medial aspect.
  • LCL (Lateral Collateral Ligament): Located on the lateral aspect.
  • ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and PCL (Posterior Cruciate Ligament): Crucial for knee stability, forming a cross structure within the knee.

Anatomy Insights

• ACL prevents anterior tibial translation and inhibits excessive rotation/internal rotation.
• Clinical Test: "Anterior Drawer Test" checks ACL integrity through tibial movement assessment.

ACL Tear Causes

• Often from excessive movement or force beyond ligament limits.
• Non-contact injuries (e.g., landing from a jump) account for 70% of ACL tears.

Surgical Options

• Autografts: Using patients' own tissues.
  • Common tissues: Hamstring tendons, patellar tendons.
• Allografts: Using tissues from a donor.
  • Sources: Achilles tendon, patellar tendon.

Graft Types Pros and Cons

• Autografts:
  • Strong ligaments but potential post-surgical joint pain and decreased strength.
• Allografts:
  • Less post-surgical pain but higher re-injury risk.

Preventive Measures

• Implement neuromuscular training in routines to reduce ACL injury risk.
  • Includes plyometrics, landing drills, and balancing exercises.
  • Balanced strength training regimen to avoid strength discrepancies (e.g., strong quads vs. weak hamstrings).

Conclusion

• Education: Understanding knee anatomy aids in comprehending injury mechanisms and preventive techniques.
• Prevention: Routine neuromuscular exercises can dramatically lower the risk of ACL injuries.