Researchers discover new band in the knee

Discovery of new body part in the knee could mean breakthrough in treating cruciate ligament injuries

08/11/2013

Belgian surgeons have discovered a new body part in the knee. The mysterious band may be related to cruciate ligament injuries and their chances of recovery. The two researchers wanted to find out why many patients still have symptoms even after the surgery, despite cruciate ligament surgery. The starting point of their investigation was a nearly 150 years old article of a Frenchman, in which another band in the knee was suspected. The Belgians now provided the anatomical proof of the structure.

Unknown tape in the knee already suspected 150 years ago
The discovery of the new band in the knee could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of ACL injuries. Because so far, many patients suffer even after surgery to symptoms.

The knee joint - a so-called rotary joint - is the largest joint in the human body and consists of bone, articular cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles and other joint structures. Among other things, it allows walking, running, jumping, standing and sitting. Correspondingly large are the impairments in injuries of the knee joint. Because in addition to knee pain usually occur on movement restrictions.

The most dreaded knee injuries include problems with the cruciate ligament. Especially in sports such as football or skiing, cruciate ligament tears occur. In most cases, such an injury results in a lengthy rehab as well as surgery. Until the knee is fully operational, many months pass. In addition, there are often persistent complaints regarding the stability of the knee. A cruciate ligament rupture is therefore particularly dramatic for professional athletes. A tear in the anterior cruciate ligament causes the joint to lose its stability by allowing the tibia to push forward over the femur. However, the newly discovered ligament in the knee could provide a breakthrough in treatment precisely in this problem.

The two Belgian surgeons Steven Claes and Johan Belleman from the University of Leuven wanted to find out why patients after ACL surgery often complain about persistent knee problems. Her research was based on a nearly 150-year-old article by French surgeon Paul Ferdinand Segond. The doctor suspected in 1879 another band in the knee. Claes and Belleman confirmed the suspicions of the Frenchman. In 40 out of 41 human knees examined, the two Belgians discovered a mysterious ligament responsible for internal shin rotation. Therefore, a violation of this could „Anterolateral ligament "(front outer band) responsible for the persistent symptoms, the researchers suspect.

Anatomical Society praises discovery of the new band in the knee
According to the University of Leuven, the anatomical society is said to discover the new volume „very refreshing“ have designated. In addition, she is said to have praised the two doctors for having them „have reminded the medical world that the knowledge of human anatomy has not been exhausted despite the development of state-of-the-art technologies“.

„This research could call into question the current medical thinking about serious ACL injuries and signal for a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with serious ACL injuries“, informs the university Claes and Belleman now want to devote themselves to the development of a new surgical technique to treat injuries to the newly discovered band. However, years will probably pass before researchers can produce concrete results. The two surgeons report in the current issue of the journal „Journal of Anatomy“ about the new band.

New body part in the eye discovered
Already in June of this year researchers discovered a new body part in the eye. Professor Harminder Dua from the University of Nottingham reported back then in the journal „Ophthalmology "from his research results, according to which the human cornea consists of six instead of five layers as previously assumed „Dua“-Schicht could facilitate future operations such as cornea transplantation.

For the second time this year, the discovery of a new body part was made possible with the new band in the knee. However, some critics suspect that in both cases already known structures have been renamed. (Ag)

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