Blood vessels of the sinus tarsi and the sinus tarsi syndrome.
This study describes the arterial and venous blood vessels in the sinus tarsi of a series of nine anatomical specimens and in a traumatically amputated leg, studied by arteriography. The sinus tarsi artery was formed in all cases from anastomoses between various arteries of the lateral region of the foot. These usually included the anterior lateral malleolar, and proximal lateral tarsal arteries; in 70% there was a branch from the distal lateral tarsal artery, and in 30% a branch from the peroneal artery. In all cases, there were anastomoses within the sinus tarsi between the sinus tarsi artery and the canalis tarsi artery, derived from the posterior tibial artery. Whatever its origins, the sinus tarsi artery was the principal supplier of intrasinusal structures and of the talus. There was a large venous plexus in the sinus tarsi, which drained particularly the venous outflow from the talus and the anterior part of the capsule of the posterior talocalcaneal joint to the lateral and medial venous systems of the foot. Posttraumatic fibrotic changes in the wall and surrounding tissue of the veins, causing disturbance of venous outflow and increased intrasinusal pressure, are proposed by the authors as one possible factor in the pathogenesis of the sinus tarsi syndrome.
Schwarzenbach
B
B
Orthopaedic University Hospital Balgrist, Section of Physical Medicine and Rheumatology, Zürich, Switzerland.
Dora
C
C
Lang
A
A
Kissling
R O
RO
D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016319:Corrosion Casting; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D013577:Syndrome; D013628:Talus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013639:Tarsal Bones / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology