ArticleOrthopaedic journal of sports medicine2026
The Anatomy of the Anterior Intermeniscal Ligament in Children: Implications for Tibial Spine Fractures, Meniscal Injuries, and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
Article in Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The anterior intermeniscal ligament (AIML) footprint and dimensions in skeletally immature knees have not been well documented. The AIML may play an important role in tibial spine fracture (TSF) reduction and meniscal repair/stability. The AIML is vulnerable to injuries during drill hole placement in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Therefore, it is necessary to characterize the anatomy of the AIML in skeletally immature knees to prevent iatrogenic injuries. Purpose: To evaluate AIML dimensions, its meniscal attachment patterns, and its relationship to the ACL. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: A total of 12 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees, 6 male and 6 female, were dissected (mean age, 9.8 years [range, 9-11 years]). The distal aspect of the quadriceps tendon was transected, and the joint capsule was opened. The infrapatellar fat pad was dissected and the AIML identified. Photographs were taken with an in-frame ruler, and the AIML length and distance to the anterior aspect of the ACL were measured. The AIML insertion type was determined according to the classification system reported by Nelson and LaPrade. Results: The mean length of the AIML was 23.6 mm (range, 19.8-31.9 mm). In 11 specimens, the mean distance between the AIML and the most anterior aspect of the ACL was 3.7 mm (range, 2.5-4.6 mm). In the remaining knee, the footprint of the anterior root of the medial meniscus, ACL, and AIML were nearly indistinguishable. The AIML was found with a type I insertion in 7 cases and a type II insertion in 5 cases. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the smaller dimensions of the AIML in skeletally immature patients and its relationship to key adjacent structures compared with previously reported adult data. These anatomic relationships highlight the AIML's vulnerability during ACL reconstruction, TSF reduction, and meniscal repair. Although the biomechanical consequences of the AIML remain unclear, we recommend avoiding injuries to this structure during procedures that may place it at risk. Clinical Relevance: This study characterized the anatomy of the AIML in pediatric knees, highlighting its consistent presence, smaller dimensions, and proximity to critical structures. Understanding the AIML's anatomy will help to minimize iatrogenic injuries during surgery, particularly in ACL reconstruction, TSF reduction, and meniscal repair.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.