Imaging the morphological variability of the anterolateral ligament: is it possible? Review of the available literature

The existence of the anterolateral ligament (ALL) has been questioned. It has recently attracted attention because of increased internal rotation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, which could relate to simultaneous anterolateral ligament rupture. The current literature reports a highly variable anatomy of this ligament, and the first classification system for it was published recently. One goal of this review is to compare the abilities of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography to detect the exact course of the anterolateral ligament, its proximal and distal attachments being depicted differently by different researchers. The main goal is to establish if all morphological types of the ALL can be identified and distinguished using noninvasive methods.