Biomaterial Database

Injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, a possible cause for anterior knee pain after tibial nailing? 2012

M S Leliveld, and M H J Verhofstad

Department of Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands. m.leliveld@elisabeth.nl

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term incidence of infrapatellar nerve damage after tibial nailing and its relation to anterior knee pain. We retrospectively evaluated 71 patients in whom 72 isolated tibial shaft fractures were treated with an intramedullary nail. The mean follow-up time was 84 months. Twenty-seven patients (38%) complained of chronic anterior knee pain. Infrapatellar nerve damage was found in 43 patients (60%). Of the 27 patients with knee pain, 21 (78%) had sensory deficits in the distribution area of the infrapatellar nerve, compared to 22 of the 45 patients (49%) without knee pain (p=0.025). Patient and fracture characteristics showed no significant differences between the two groups. At time of follow-up a total of 33 nails were removed of which twelve were taken out because of knee pain. The pain persisted in seven of these twelve patients (58%). The incidence of iatrogenic damage to the infrapatellar nerve after tibial nailing is high and lasting. Injury to this nerve appears to be associated with anterior knee pain after tibial nailing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007719	Knee Joint	A synovial hinge connection formed between the bones of the FEMUR; TIBIA; and PATELLA.	Superior Tibiofibular Joint,Joint, Knee,Joint, Superior Tibiofibular,Knee Joints,Superior Tibiofibular Joints,Tibiofibular Joint, Superior
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010149	Pain, Postoperative	Pain during the period after surgery.	Acute Post-operative Pain,Acute Postoperative Pain,Chronic Post-operative Pain,Chronic Post-surgical Pain,Chronic Postoperative Pain,Chronic Postsurgical Pain,Pain, Post-operative,Persistent Postsurgical Pain,Post-operative Pain,Post-operative Pain, Acute,Post-operative Pain, Chronic,Post-surgical Pain,Postoperative Pain, Acute,Postoperative Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain,Postoperative Pain,Acute Post operative Pain,Chronic Post operative Pain,Chronic Post surgical Pain,Chronic Postsurgical Pains,Pain, Acute Post-operative,Pain, Acute Postoperative,Pain, Chronic Post-operative,Pain, Chronic Post-surgical,Pain, Chronic Postoperative,Pain, Chronic Postsurgical,Pain, Persistent Postsurgical,Pain, Post operative,Pain, Post-surgical,Pain, Postsurgical,Post operative Pain,Post operative Pain, Acute,Post operative Pain, Chronic,Post surgical Pain,Post-operative Pains,Post-surgical Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain, Persistent
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D012086	Reoperation	A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery.	Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D001858	Bone Nails	Rods of bone, metal, or other material used for fixation of the fragments or ends of fractured bones.	Bone Pins,Bone Nail,Bone Pin,Nail, Bone,Nails, Bone,Pin, Bone,Pins, Bone
D005260	Female		Females
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D005594	Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary	The use of nails that are inserted into bone cavities in order to keep fractured bones together.	Intramedullary Nailing,Nailing, Intramedullary,Osteosynthesis, Fracture, Intramedullary,Fixation, Intramedullary Fracture,Fixations, Intramedullary Fracture,Fracture Fixations, Intramedullary,Intramedullary Fracture Fixation,Intramedullary Fracture Fixations,Intramedullary Nailings,Nailings, Intramedullary