An Anatomic Study of the Posterior Septum of the Knee

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2012-01-01
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Purpose: To evaluate the posterior septum of the knee and determine the presence of a safe zone that could be removed, without significant damage to blood vessels and nerves. Methods: Nineteen fresh unpaired adult human cadaveric knees, with no macroscopic degenerative or traumatic changes, were used in this study. Microscopic evaluation was performed by analysis of H&E, CD-34, and S-100 staining. Results: the posterior septum of the knee is rich in type II and type IV mechanoreceptors and blood vessels. the superior half has a greater number of blood vessels (21.52 +/- 6.36 v 12.05 +/- 4.1, P < .001), higher-caliber vessels (2.2 +/- 0.89 mu m v 1.41 +/- 0.45 mu m, P < .006), and a greater number of mechanoreceptors per field (type II, 1.8 +/- 1.8 v 0.42 +/- 1, P = .04; type IV, 22.6 +/- 14 v 14.5 +/- 9.4, P = .04) than the inferior half of the septum. Conclusions: This study has shown that the posterior septum of the knee is highly vascularized and has a great number of type II and IV mechanoreceptors. the presence of these structures is significantly higher in the superior half of the septum. Clinical Relevance: If debridement of the posterior septum is necessary, it should be done at the inferior aspect so that a greater number of blood vessels and mechanoreceptors can be preserved.
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Arthroscopy-the Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc, v. 28, n. 1, p. 100-104, 2012.