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The five ligaments studied act with a symphonic harmony to provide stability to the knee. The SMCL was of major importance in medial knee stability. The other ligament which provided the most dramatic contribution to knee stability was the PC. It was the only ligament which when sectioned resulted in a significant posterior anterior drawer instability and on three occasions produced a jerk test.

The popliteal hiatus is the opening defined by the fascicles of the lateral meniscus, which permits the popliteal tendon to pursue its course from the tibia to its femoral attachment. The medial border of the popliteal hiatus is the body of the meniscus. Ten fresh-frozen knee specimens from human adult males (with no evidence of previous surgery to the knees) were dissected. The joints were disarticulated so that only the lateral structures remained intact. The perimeter of the meniscal attachment anterior to the hiatus measured 4.2+/ - 0.3 cm, and the perimeter posterior to the hiatus measured 3.4 +/- 0.5 cm. The total perimeter of the lateral meniscus was 8.9 +/- 0.7 cm. The length of the superior fascicle of the lateral meniscus was 0.9 +/- 0.2 cm. In this series, the length of the hiatus was 1.3 +/- 0.1 cm. The anatomy of the popliteal hiatus was constant. The popliteal hiatus is an anatomical structure and must be differentiated from pathologic lesions common to the same area.

Entrapment of the brachial artery within a compound dislocated elbow joint seems not to have been reported previously. Brachial artery rupture is the usual vascular injury associated with a compound elbow dislocation. A review of the surgical literature suggests that wide spectrum of disability may follow interruption of brachial artery flow at the elbow. While most patients experience no immediate or late ischemic symptoms because of the rich collateral network about the elbow, intermittent claudication or gangrene of the hand is possible and has been well-documented in the literature. To assure adequate circulation to the hand and prevent potential complications, reanastomosis or venous graft replacement of the damaged arterial segment is recommended at the time of traumatic disruption of the brachial artery.