Contribution of anterolateral ligament injuries to the knee joint instability and modern methods of their diagnostics

Untreated damage to the anterolateral ligament of the knee is one of the residual rotational instability causes in patients with the ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament after its perfect surgical reconstruction. The contribution of anterolateral ligament damage to rotational instability of the knee, its anatomical features, diagnostics and treatment have been widely discussed in the literature in recent decades. However, the insights in the fundamental issues of its anatomy and functional anatomy, and therefore the reconstruction methods and expediency are diametrically positive. Differences in the anatomy data lead to the uncertainty in diagnostic criteria and optimal treatment options. Anterolateral ligament in its nature is beyond the current-day diagnostic capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging. We have identified the reasons for disagreement among the researchers in the anatomy of an anterolateral ligament, the best ways to diagnose and treat its damage. We have suggested the ways to address these issues in this article.