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Sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve in relation to a medial knee ligament repair or reconstruction

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Surgical approaches to repair or reconstruct the medial knee structures note caution to avoid the sartorial branch of saphenous nerve. However, the approximate area of potential iatrogenic nerve injury has not been previously described in relation to landmarks for a medial knee reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to define the course of the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve in relation to the superficial medial collateral ligament. A total of ten non-paired, fresh-frozen cadaveric knees, with no evidence of prior injury or disease were utilized. Dissection to identify the medial knee structures was performed. The sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve was identified in all specimens. The perpendicular distance from the anterior border of the superficial medial collateral ligament 2 cm distal from the joint line to the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve was 4.8 ± 0.9 cm. The distance from the anterior border of the superficial medial collateral ligament to the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve decreased as the distance was increased distally with a mean distance of 4 cm (4.1 ± 0.8 cm) distal from the joint line and 6 cm (3.8 ± 0.8 cm) distal from the joint line. We have characterized the surgically relevant landmark anatomy of the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve in regards to performing a repair or reconstruction of the medial knee structures. Familiarity with these anatomic landmarks and associated distances from the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve, we can assess the potential area of vulnerability to this nerve branch intraoperatively.

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Acknowledgments

This research study was supported by a grant from the Research Council of Norway grant # 175047/D15 and Health East Norway grant # 10703604.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Avenue South, R200, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA

    Coen A. Wijdicks, Benjamin D. Westerhaus, Emily J. Brand & Robert F. LaPrade

  2. Orthopaedic Center, Ullevaal University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Steinar Johansen & Lars Engebretsen

Authors
  1. Coen A. Wijdicks
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  2. Benjamin D. Westerhaus
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  3. Emily J. Brand
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  4. Steinar Johansen
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  5. Lars Engebretsen
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  6. Robert F. LaPrade
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Correspondence to Robert F. LaPrade.

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Wijdicks, C.A., Westerhaus, B.D., Brand, E.J. et al. Sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve in relation to a medial knee ligament repair or reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18, 1105–1109 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0934-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-009-0934-6

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