title: Anatomical relationship between the proximal tibia and posterior neurovascular structures: a safe zone for surgeries involving the proximal tibia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative description of the anatomical relationship between the proximal tibia and posterior neurovascular structures to delineate a safe zone for tibial surgery. We measured the distance between the tibial cortex and neurovascular structures, and the width of the medial/lateral part of the tibia without neurovascular structures, using magnetic resonance imaging data of 50 knees. The average distance was <10 mm. Neurovascular structures passed just lateral to the posterior middle line of the tibia, with major branches passing laterally at 5.5 to 6 cm below the joint line. There was a safe zone posterior to the medial half of the tibia for penetration of the posterior cortex.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Fourth Clinical College of Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors: Dejin
authors: D
authors: Yang
authors: Yixin
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Qiheng
authors: Q
authors: Tang
authors: Haijun
authors: H
authors: Xu
authors: Xucheng
authors: X
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult