Posterolateral Corner (PLC)

Introduction

• Approximately 7-16% knee ligament injuries are to the lateral ligamentous complex -
  • isolated injuries to PLC are rare -
    • usually combined with cruciate ligament injury (PCL > ACL)
  • missed PLC injury diagnosis is common cause of ACL reconstruction failure


• Mechanisms -
  • blow to anteromedial knee
  • varus blow to flexed knee
  • contact and noncontact hyperextension injuries
  • knee dislocation -


• Associated injuries -
  • common peroneal nerve (15-29%)
  • vascular injury