Oblique Popliteal Ligament Injury

The oblique popliteal ligament is an important structure of the posterior aspect of the knee. It is historically described in several anatomical studies that investigated the posterior knee structures, but a unique denomination of the ligament was not adopted, until the definition and anatomical description provided by LaPrade and colleagues in 2007. The ligament originated from the posteromedial tibial plateau, with some fibers deriving from the semimembranous tendon, and the posteromedial capsule; the structure is headed superolaterally to the fabella or directly to the lateral gastrocnemius tendon on the posterosuperior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle, and blended to the posterolateral capsule. Although it is a well-defined ligament, great variability in the shape of the ligament and its attachments was described. Biomechanical studies advocated it is a primary restrainer of knee hyperextension, but its oblique orientation suggests a possible role in restraining tibial external rotation. Considering these biomechanical characteristics, it is possible to assume the oblique popliteal ligament involvement in knee ligament injuries, especially in the case of multiple-ligament knee injuries. However, an oblique popliteal ligament tear generally is not routinely evaluated, and no specific reconstruction technique has been developed yet.