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Can Bassett’s ligament be removed?

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

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the functional characteristics of Bassett’s ligament in the ankle, focusing on mechanoreceptors and potential problems following resection of Bassett’s ligament.

Methods

Bassett’s ligament, the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), and synovium were obtained from 20 ankles of 10 fresh-frozen cadavers. Histologically, mechanoreceptors were identified and classified as Ruffini (type I), Vater–Pacini (type II), Golgi–Mazzoni (type III) corpuscles, and free nerve endings (type IV). Differences in receptor densities were compared.

Results

Type I clusters were observed with three to six ramifications; type II mechanoreceptors were encapsulated in clusters of two to four with ovoid or cylindrical shape; type III were amorphous, long and wide, and fusiform- or spindle-shaped; and type IV were long and fine without a defined shape. Differences in the densities of the mechanoreceptors inside three soft tissues (Bassett’s ligament, ATFL, and synovium) were not significant.

Conclusion

There were no significant differences in the densities of the four types of mechanoreceptors among the soft tissues studied. In Bassett’s ligament, type I mechanoreceptors were present at significantly higher densities than the other receptors.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Soonchunhyang University Research Fund. We thank the Korea University Practical Anatomy Research Institute for supporting our cadaver study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, 53, Jinhawngdo-ro 61 gil, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, 134-791, Republic of Korea

    Eui Dong Yeo

  2. Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine University, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Im Joo Rhyu & Da Som Kim

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Sports Medicine, Guro Hospital, College of Medicine, Korea Univeristy, 80 Gurodong, Gurogu, Seoul, 152-703, Republic of Korea

    Hak Jun Kim

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bucheon Hospital, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, 170, Jomaru-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 420-767, Republic of Korea

    Joong-Hyeon Ahn & Young Koo Lee

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  1. Eui Dong Yeo
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  2. Im Joo Rhyu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Young Koo Lee.

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial association (e.g. consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Additional information

Eui Dong Yeo and Im Joo Rhyu are co-first authors.

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Yeo, E.D., Rhyu, I.J., Kim, H.J. et al. Can Bassett’s ligament be removed?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 24, 1236–1242 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3903-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3903-2

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