RESUMO
PURPOSE: To explore the anatomic features of the fabella and its relationship with the common peroneal nerve and the fabellofibular ligament, so as to provide anatomical evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of fabella diseases in a Chinese population. METHODS: Sixty-one formalin-fixed knee specimens were obtained for anatomic dissection. Structural features of the fabella were investigated by radiological and histological tests. RESULTS: There were 53 cases (86.89%) with fabellae in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, including 34 bony ones (55.74%), whereas only 6 cases had fabellae in the medial head (9.84%). The fabellae were accompanied by common peroneal nerves on their surfaces in 11 cases (20.8%), and the presence of the fabella was not generally predictive of a fabellofibular ligament. As much as 57.9% of the cartilage fabellae were not visualized on radiograph. The structure of the ossified fabella is similar to a typical long bone. CONCLUSIONS: Fabellae were mainly present in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle in a large proportion of the Chinese population. More than half of the cartilage fabellae were not visualized on radiograph. Its clinical significance could not be ignored by physicians and anatomists.
Assuntos
Artropatias/etnologia , Articulação do Joelho/anatomia & histologia , Músculo Esquelético/anatomia & histologia , Ossos Sesamoides/anatomia & histologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Povo Asiático , Cadáver , Dissecação , Feminino , Humanos , Artropatias/diagnóstico por imagem , Artropatias/cirurgia , Ligamentos Articulares/anatomia & histologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Músculo Esquelético/diagnóstico por imagem , Nervo Fibular/anatomia & histologia , Radiografia , Ossos Sesamoides/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
This study explored the anatomic relationship of the popliteus complex (PC) and collected anatomic data of PC in a Chinese population. The anatomic study was performed using 81 formalin-fixed knees. The femoral attachment of the popliteus tendon could be classified into three types with respect to femoral attachment of the lateral collateral ligament. The popliteofibular ligament presented as ligament (87.7%) or fascia (12.3%), originating from the musculotendinous junction of the popliteus muscle or just proximal to it. Given the great variability of the posterolateral structures, reconstructive surgeons should design a method based on individual anatomic features, rather than a fixed reconstructive surgery.