The Variable Emergence of the Infrapatellar Branch of the Saphenous Nerve

This study utilized cadaveric (n = 100) and ultrasonography (n = 30) assessments, and meta-analysis. In the cadaveric study, the presence of IPBSN and its emergence mode in relation to the sartorius muscle (SaM) was determined (type A-anterior; type B-posterior; type C-penetrating the SaM). Ultrasonography examinations were conducted on healthy volunteers to determine the presence and mode of the emergence of the nerve. Finally, from electronic databases searching, all studies reporting the IPBSN emergence data were pooled into a meta-analysis. The mean distance between the medial border of the patellar ligament (MBPL) and the IPBSN at the level of the patellar apex (PA) was also analyzed in the cadaveric, ultrasonography, and meta-analysis portions of the study. Six studies (n = 336 limbs), including the present cadaveric study, were pooled into the meta-analysis of emergence. The most prevalent IPBSN emergence mode was type C (42.9%) followed by type B (41.9%) and type A (15.4%). In the ultrasonography assessment, type A was found to be the most common (82.8%). The mean distance between the MBPL and the IPBSN at the level of the PA was 4.89 ± 0.22 cm, and 5.57 ± 0.91 cm, for the cadaveric and meta-analysis studies combined, and the ultrasonography assessment, respectively. This multimodality study shows that the most common type of IPBSN emergence is type C. The horizontal distance between the MBPL and the IPBSN at the level of the PA is usually betwee...
Source: Journal of Knee Surgery - Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research