Syndesmotic Fixation With Suture Button: Neurovascular Structures at Risk: A Cadaver Study. 2020

Eva J Lehtonen, and Martim C Pinto, and Harshadkumar A Patel, and Nicholas Dahlgren, and Eildar Abyar, and Ashish Shah
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to describe the anatomic variations in the saphenous nerve and risk of direct injury to the saphenous nerve and greater saphenous vein during syndesmotic suture button fixation. METHODS Under fluoroscopic guidance, syndesmotic suture buttons were placed from lateral to medial at 1, 2, and 3 cm above the tibial plafond on 10 below-knee cadaver leg specimens. The distance and position of each button from the greater saphenous vein and saphenous nerve were evaluated. RESULTS The mean distance of the saphenous nerve to the suture buttons at 1, 2, and 3 cm were 7.1 ± 5.6, 6.5 ± 4.6, and 6.1 ± 4.2, respectively. Respective rate of nerve compression was as follows, 20% at 1 cm, 20% at 2 cm, and 10% at 3 cm. Mean distance of the greater saphenous vein from the suture buttons at 1, 2, and 3 cm was 8.6 ± 7.1, 9.1 ± 5.3, and 7.9 ± 4.9 mm, respectively. Respective rate of vein compression was 20%, 10%, and 10%. A single nerve branch was identified in 7 specimens, and 2 branches were identified in 3 specimens. CONCLUSIONS There was at least one case of injury to the saphenous vein and nerve at every level of button insertion at a rate of 10% to 20%. Neurovascular injury may occur despite vigilant use of fluoroscopy and adequate surgical technique. Further investigation into the use of direct medial visualization of these high-risk structures should be done to minimize the risk. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level II: Prospective, comparative study.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D005471 Fluoroscopy Production of an image when x-rays strike a fluorescent screen. Fluoroscopies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012306 Risk The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome. Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative
D012501 Saphenous Vein The vein which drains the foot and leg. Saphenous Veins,Vein, Saphenous,Veins, Saphenous
D013536 Suture Techniques Techniques for securing together the edges of a wound, with loops of thread or similar materials (SUTURES). Suture Technics,Suture Technic,Suture Technique,Technic, Suture,Technics, Suture,Technique, Suture,Techniques, Suture
D063405 Anatomic Variation Peculiarities associated with the internal structure, form, topology, or architecture of organisms that distinguishes them from others of the same species or group.

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