Fabellofibular ligament

Last revised by Joachim Feger on 19 Dec 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Feger J, Fabellofibular ligament. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 20 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-89394

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-89394

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/89394

rID:

89394

Article created:

7 May 2021, Joachim Feger ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.

View Joachim Feger's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Dec 2021, Joachim Feger ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.

View Joachim Feger's current disclosures

Revisions:

3 times, by 1 contributor - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

cases3

Synonyms:

Gastrocnemiofibular ligament
Fabellofibular ligament (FFL)

The fabellofibular ligament (FFL) or gastrocnemiofibular ligament is a ligamentous structure of the posterolateral corner of the knee and a static secondary stabilizer with morphological variability.

The fabellofibular ligament takes its course from the fabella and descends vertically parallel to the lateral collateral ligament of the knee and attaches to the fibular styloid process. It might originate from the posterolateral surface of the lateral femoral condyle if no fabella is present ^1-4and was found in a variable number of cadaver specimens and MRI studies ³. Its presence and thickness are apparently inversely correlated with the presence and thickness of an arcuate ligament ^2,3.

Function

Together with the arcuate ligament the fabellofibular ligament functions as a static stabilizer and a restraint to external rotation, varus angulation and posterior translation ⁴.

Attachments

The fabellofibular ligament originates along the lateral edge of the fabella or on the posterior border of the supracondylar process of the femur converging with the anterior fibers of the lateral gastrocnemius origin.

The distal insertion on the fibular styloid process is posterior to the lateral bundle of the arcuate ligament and the biceps femoris tendon and lateral to the popliteofibular ligament ^1-3.

Relations

The fabellofibular ligament courses posterior to the lateral femoral condyle and medial to the short head biceps femoris tendon and serves as an insertion site for the capsular arm of the latter ².

The lateral inferior geniculate vessels course between the arcuate and fabellofibular ligaments.

Radiographic features

MRI

The fabellofibular ligament appears as a thin hypointense ligament on MRI and can be found immediately posterior to the lateral femoral condyle underneath the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in up to 48% of individuals ^2-4.