An inconstant ligament in the popliteal region associated to the superior genicular arteries: surgical importance

Abstract

Materials and methods: In the dissection of 60 knees of 30 cadavers (13 women and 17 men), a ligament was located in the posterior femur face above the lateral or medial condyle.

Results: This ligamentous structure was found in 12 (20%) out of 60 knees studied (38% of the women and 35% of the men). It had a vertical arrangement and a constant direct relation to the superior (lateral or medial) genicular artery, and in no case it appeared as a posterior reinforcement of the capsule. The superior vessels were fixed by this ligament.

Discussion: This fixation may provide stability to the vascular tree but it could be a cause of post-surgical hemarthrosis in arthroscopy of the posterior knee area or in posterior or lateral knee approaches or it could be even implicated in vascular injury of the popliteal artery during knee dislocation.

Conclusion: The objective was to describe this inconstant ligament and to study its clinical relevance for surgical procedures, and particularly for those using the posterior approach to the knee joint.