Surgical approaches to repair or reconstruct the medial knee structures note caution to avoid the sartorial branch ofsaphenous nerve. However, the approximate area of potential iatrogenic nerve injury has not been previously described inrelation to landmarks for a medial knee reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to define the course of the sartorialbranch of the saphenous nerve in relation to the superficial medial collateral ligament. A total of ten non-paired, fresh-frozen cadaveric knees, with no evidence of prior injury or disease were utilized. Dissection to identify the medial knee structures was performed. The sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve was identified in all specimens. The perpendicular distance from the anterior border of the superficial medial collateral ligament 2 cm distal from the joint line to the sartorial branch of thesaphenous nerve was 4.8 +/- 0.9 cm. The distance from the anterior border of the superficial medial collateral ligament to thesartorial branch of the saphenous nerve decreased as the distance was increased distally with a mean distance of 4 cm (4.1 +/- 0.8 cm) distal from the joint line and 6 cm (3.8 +/- 0.8 cm) distal from the joint line. We have characterized the surgically relevant landmark anatomy of the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve in regards to performing a repair or reconstruction of the medial knee structures. Familiarity with these anatomic landmarks and associated distances from the sartorial branch of the saphenous nerve, we can assess the potential area of vulnerability to this nerve branch intraoperatively.

江苏省徐州医学院附属医院骨科　 关节镜、膝关节外科、骨科运动医学方向 高绪仁 编译