Which aspect of the knee joint is most prone to injury? Why is this true, and what structures are most commonly involved?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANS:
The medial side of the knee joint is more prone to injury than the lateral. This is due to the physiological angulation of the knee joint, which results in valgus stresses being greater than varus. Similarly, trauma to the knee is more likely to come from the lateral aspect of the knee than from the medial (again, valgus stresses). The medial aspect of the knee joint is also the pivot point for rotation of the knee, making the medial side of the knee most vulnerable when unlocked (ligaments and capsule lax) and when valgus and rotational stresses are combined. Because the medial meniscus is more fixed than the lateral, it tends to tear more under these excessive forces.