Lower limb
Fibular (lateral) collateral ligament
Ligamentum collaterale fibulare (LCL)
- Origin
- From the lateral epicondyle of the femur
- Insertion
- To the head of the fibula, where it forms the conjoined tendon with the biceps femoris tendon
- Function
- Main stabiliser against varus load at the knee; unlike the medial ligament it is not attached to the meniscus
- Innervation
- Branches of the common fibular and tibial nerves
- Movement & chain
- Tense in extension and relaxed in flexion; works with the posterolateral corner for rotational stability
- Palpation
- Clearly felt as a tight cord in the figure-four position (hip externally rotated, knee at 90 degrees); varus stress test at 0 and 30 degrees
- Clinical
- Varus injury with posterolateral corner damage, often together with cruciate injury; common fibular nerve palsy from the same blow
- Segmental innervation
- Sensory L4-S2
- In clinical practice
- After a varus trauma always test ankle dorsiflexion and sensation on the dorsum of the foot: the fibular nerve runs right past this ligament
- Region in the model
- Lower limb