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Anatomic study of popliteus complex of the knee in a Chinese population

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Abstract

This study explored the anatomic relationship of the popliteus complex (PC) and collected anatomic data of PC in a Chinese population. The anatomic study was performed using 81 formalin-fixed knees. The femoral attachment of the popliteus tendon could be classified into three types with respect to femoral attachment of the lateral collateral ligament. The popliteofibular ligament presented as ligament (87.7%) or fascia (12.3%), originating from the musculotendinous junction of the popliteus muscle or just proximal to it. Given the great variability of the posterolateral structures, reconstructive surgeons should design a method based on individual anatomic features, rather than a fixed reconstructive surgery.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Professor Su Jiacan of the Orthopaedic Department of Changhai Hospital in Shanghai for his great help with deciding the measurement parameters, and instructor Guo Xiaojing of the Department of Statistics of the Second Military Medical University for her generous help with statistical analysis.

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No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Correspondence to Rui-Shan Dang.

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Zeng, SX., Wu, GS., Dang, RS. et al. Anatomic study of popliteus complex of the knee in a Chinese population. Anat Sci Int 86, 213–218 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-011-0112-z

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