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Patient factors impacting localization of popliteal artery before total knee arthroplasty

  • Knee Arthroplasty
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Intraoperative injury to the popliteal artery (PA) should be avoided during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study was performed to clarify the preoperative localization of the PA and the patient factors that impact its localization as a preventive measure.

Methods

Ninety-seven patients (110 knees; 18 men, 79 women) with osteoarthritis who underwent primary TKA were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative sagittal magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the distance between the PA and the closest point at three levels: the femoral epicondyle (DPF), the tibial articular surface (DPAS), and the posterior tibial cortex (DPT). All variables are expressed in millimeters as median (interquartile range).

Results

The median distance was 10.35 (7.90–12.34) mm for DPF, 6.32 (5.12–8.57) mm for DPAS, and 3.76 (2.28–5.26) mm for DPT. Body height and weight showed weak correlations with DPF (r = 0.324, p < 0.001 and r = 0.207, p = 0.03, respectively). DPF was smaller in women [9.82 (7.64–12.23) mm] than in men [11.27 (10.26–12.75) mm] (p = 0.004). A larger flexion angle and range of motion showed a weak negative correlation with DPT (r =  − 0.282, p = 0.003 and r =  − 0.236, p = 0.016, respectively). Multiple regression analysis revealed that DPF was related to body height (β = 0.341, p < 0.001) and that DPT was related to the flexion angle (β =  − 0.264, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Special attention should be paid to women with a small physique on the femoral side and/or patients with a large flexion angle on the tibial side as a strategy to prevent PA-related complications.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Edanz Group (https://en-author-services.edanz.com/ac), for editing a draft of this manuscript.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ishii Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Clinic, 1089 Shimo-Oshi, Gyoda, Saitama, 361-0037, Japan

    Yoshinori Ishii, Hideo Noguchi, Junko Sato & Ikuko Takahashi

  2. School of Plastic Surgery, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0253, Japan

    Hana Ishii

  3. Shinshu University Hospital, 3-1-1 Asahi Matsumoto, Nagano, 390-8621, Japan

    Ryo Ishii

  4. Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Hospital, 38 Horino, Ninohe, Iwate, 028-6193, Japan

    Kei Ishii

  5. Niigata University Crisis Management Office, Niigata University Hospital, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1 Asahimachi Dori Niigata, Niigata, 951-8520, Japan

    Shin-ichi Toyabe

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  1. Yoshinori Ishii
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Correspondence to Yoshinori Ishii.

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The local institutional review board approved this study. All patients provided informed consent.

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Ishii, Y., Noguchi, H., Sato, J. et al. Patient factors impacting localization of popliteal artery before total knee arthroplasty. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 143, 6353–6360 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-023-04896-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-023-04896-w

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