Abstract
The objective of this study was to confirm the presence and frequency of a bifurcation of the popliteus tendon. The popliteus tendon has received attention due to its important function as a knee stabiliser. Several anatomical variants have recently been reported, one of them being a bifurcated tendon. However, the actual frequency as well as the possible role of this particular variant is still unknown. We prospectively analysed a series of 1,569 arthroscopies between January 2005 to December 2007. Six asymptomatic bifurcated popliteus tendons were found. No alterations in the magnetic resonance imaging were seen and no clinical signs (related to the popliteus tendon) were observed in these patients before surgery. In all cases the morphological variant was found by chance. Our results suggest that the presence of a bifurcated popliteus tendon is a fact and that its frequency, not previously reported, should not be ignored.
Résumé
Le but de cette étude est de confirmer la présence et la fréquence de la bifurcation au niveau du tendon poplité. Introduction : le tendon poplité est un élément important de la stabilisation du genou. Plusieurs variations anatomiques ont été rapportées récemment, une d’entre-elles est la bifucation du tendon. Cependant, la fréquence actuelle de cette anomalie et son rôle restent inconnus. Matériel et méthode: nous avons réalisé une étude prospective sur une série de 1569 arthroscopies de janvier 2005 à décembre 2007. Résultats : six bifurcations du tendon poplité asymptomatiques ont été trouvées. Aucune altération n’a été mise en évidence à l’IRM, dans tous les cas cette variable morphologique a été trouvée de façon inopinée sans signe clinique. Conclusion : nos résultats nous permettent de penser que la présence d’une bifurcation du tendon poplité est une réalité et que sa fréquence ne peut être ignorée.
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Leal-Blanquet, J., Ginés-Cespedosa, A. & Monllau, J.C. Bifurcated popliteus tendon: a descriptive arthroscopic study. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 33, 1633–1635 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0685-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0685-x