Surgical Implications of the Arterial Anatomy around the Knee: A Cadaveric Pictorial Essay.

Abstract

We completed an anatomic cadaver study in order to examine the arterial supply around the knee and to create useful images regarding the arterial surgical anatomy around the knee. A total of four unmatched fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were utilized. There was no medical history of osteoporosis, bony or soft-tissue injury or surgery in any of the knees. The femoral arteries were cannulated with a large catheter at the proximal aspect of the cadavers, and liquid latex in different colours was injected. Τhe specimens were then placed into a bath of 8.0% sodium hypochlorite to complete debridement of the soft tissues to various degrees. The specimens were checked every 15 to 30 min until adequate debridement occurred, and photographs were taken during each stage of this process. Sodium hypochlorite, among others, chemically debrides the vessel walls leaving the casts of the vessel lumens filled with solid coloured latex in order to illustrate the vascular supply pattern to the structures of interest. Knowing the probability of where these arteries should be located adds to the knowledge that surgeons have at their disposal when performing procedures involving arthroscopy, arthroplasty and osteotomies, which can help decrease unnecessary damage to the arteries.