title: An anatomic study of the posterior septum of the knee.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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 μm v 1.41 ± 0.45 μm, 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Leonardo Addêo
authors: LA
authors: Ramos
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Astur
authors: João Victor
authors: JV
authors: Novaretti
authors: Leandro Masini
authors: LM
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Rogério Teixeira de
authors: RT
authors: Carvalho
authors: Moisés
authors: M
authors: Cohen
authors: Sheila J McNeill
authors: SJ
authors: Ingham
authors: René Jorge
authors: RJ
authors: Abdalla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply