title: Iatrogenic popliteus tendon injury during total knee arthroplasty results in decreased knee function two to three years postoperatively.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The popliteus tendon is known to play a key role in the stability of the posterolateral corner of the knee. While prior work suggests that isolated sectioning of the popliteus tendon has little consequence for the static stability of the knee following TKA, no studies have evaluated the effect of iatrogenic popliteal tendon injury on patient oriented outcome and knee function following TKA. The aims of this study are (1) to compare patient-oriented outcome scores of patients who suffered an iatrogenic injury to the popliteus tendon with a control group without such an injury and (2) to identify risk factors associated with iatrogenic injury to the popliteus tendon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with an iatrogenic complete transection of the popliteus tendon during TKA were compared to the 666 patients who underwent TKA during the same time period without popliteus tendon injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperatively, IKS knee scores were similar between the two groups; however, significantly lower IKS function scores were noted in the study group (71 ± 31) compared to the control group (86 ± 19) (p = 0.0036). Iatrogenic popliteal tendon injury was only noted to occur in patients in whom components of size four or smaller were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative complete section of the popliteus tendon during the performance of TKA results in decreased IKS functional scores two to three years postoperatively. Patients with smaller knees may be at higher risk for this complication.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Surgery, Policlinico S. Maria alle Scotte, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de Simone
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demey
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Magnussen
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lustig
authors.forename: Elvire
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Servien
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neyret
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors