Morphological variants of pes anserinus in South India

Abstract

Background. It was described that variations exist in the pes anserinus tendons. In this study, our aim was to observe the variations of the pes anserinus in South Indians. Methods. We examined 53 embalmed human adult lower extremities. The pes anserinus was macroscopically observed for the morphological variants after dissecting the tendons which inserted at the antero medial surface of proximal tibia. Results. The pes anserinus was formed by 3 tendons, gracilis, semitendinosus and sarto-rius in 48 lower limbs (90.6%). It was observed that, 41 (77.4%) had convergent type, 7 (13.2%) had early convergence and 5 lower limbs (9.4%) were having divergent pattern of pes anserinus morphology.Semimembranosus muscle was taking in the formation of pes anserinus in 3 lower limbs (5.7%). The pes anserinus was inserting into the fascia cruris and not tibia in 8 specimens (15.1%). However in 10 cases (18.9%), the insertion was both at the tibia and fascia cruris.The insertion was only at fascia cruris and not in tibia in 15.1% cases. The semitendinosus was giving an extra slip, which was attaching to the medial condyle of tibia in 7 cases (13.2%). It was giving slip to medial collateral ligament in 2 cases (3.8%) and ligamentum patellae in 1 case (1.9%).Conclusion. We believe that this information about morphological variants of pes anser-inus is helpful to the plastic and orthopaedic surgeons. Preoperative radiological exam-ination of pes anserinus may be helpful to the operating surgeons to avoid the subsequent difficulties during the procedures like transplant surgeries and graft harvesting during reconstructive surgeries.