Anatomic Consideration of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and the Patellar Tendon of Thai People

Abstract

Background :  Injury of the postior cruciate ligament (PCL) is occurred during sports activities, or from motor vehicles accidents. Primary repair of PCL should be done if it is possible, however, in unrepaired cases recontruction by using various types of surrounding tendons are recommended. Patella tendon is one of the selected tendon for PCL reconstruction. The sizes of posterior  cruciate ligament and patellar tendon, however, are referenced from Europeans’ cadaver> The sizes of these structures of Thai people have not been studied yet.

Objective :  To study the width and length of the PCL and patellar tendon.

Design :  A descriptive study.

Setting :  The study was done at the Gross Anatomy Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University.

Subjects :  68 knees of Thais’ cadaver.

Measurement :

1.  Measured the width and length of PCL and patella tendon at origin and insertion by using verneir caliper for three times.

2.  Measured the sites of PCL attachment at the femur and tibia by using verneir caliper.

The results were compared with regard of male and female.

Results :  The average of width of PCL was 10.73 mm. In female and 11.80 mm. In male.

The average of length of PCL was 19.04 in female and 21.02 in male.

The average of width of patellar ligament were 27.48, 23.46, 20.91 in female T Apexof patella, half of length, tibial tubercle.

The average of length of patella tendon was 37.51 mm. In female and 38.24 mm. In male.

Conclusion :  No significal at 95% confidence interval between female and male.

Key Words :  Posterior Cruciate ligament, Patellar tendon