Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Collateral Ligaments of the Knee

Injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL), including the posterolateral corner (PLC), can occur independently but are also commonly found concomitant to other ligamentous injuries. Diagnosis of injury to these structures can be difficult and may be overlooked. Understanding the anatomy and biomechanics of the involved structures are critical in diagnosis and decision-making in treatment. This chapter includes description of normal anatomy and essential biomechanical features of each structure followed by an overview of injury pattern and biomechanics of the reconstructed knee.