The saphenous nerve: its course and importance in medial arthrotomy

Abstract

Both lower extremities of 10 cadavers (20 specimens) were dissected to delineate the course of the saphenous nerve and its two major divisions (sartorial and infrapatellar branches). The course of the saphenous nerve followed the standard text description, except at the point in the sartorius muscle where the infrapatellar branch exited to become a subcutaneous structure. The location of this branch varied slightly in each cadaver but was the same for both lower extremities in the same cadaver. The location of the sartorial nerve and its relationship to the tendons of the pes anserinus was consistent in all 20 specimens. Since 69% of a group of 75 patients found altered sensation significant after routine sectioning of the infrapatellar nerve following medial meniscectomy, a group of surgeons at the University of Michigan is now protecting the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve at operation. Early results on a small number of patients indicate that no alteration in sensation occurs if the nerve is carefully retracted.