First report of an accessory popliteal muscle: detection with MRI

During an MRI examination of the knee in a 48-year-old patient suffering from degenerative changes of a partly resected medial meniscus and concomitant osteoarthritis of the knee joint, an unusual variant of an accessory muscle in the popliteal fossa was found. To our best knowledge this muscle has never been described before. Because of the close relationship to the popliteal muscle with regard to course and localisation in the deep popliteal fossa ventral to the popliteal artery, the term accessory popliteal muscle is proposed.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Oxazolone and diclofenac-induced popliteal lymph node assay reactions are attenuated in mice orally pretreated with the respective compound: potential role for the induction of regulatory mechanisms following enteric administration

The murine popliteal lymph node assay (PLNA) was examined as a preclinical assay with the potential to identify low-molecular-weight compounds (LMWCs) that are likely to be associated with immune-mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) in humans. We hypothesized that the contact sensitizer oxazolone (OX) would cause a strong PLN reaction in naive mice and that the PLN reaction would be attenuated in mice orally pretreated with OX due to the induction of oral tolerance. In naive mice, OX induced a strong PLN reaction and caused dose-dependent increases in PLN size, weight, cellularity, percentage of CD4(+) PLN T cells, and percentage of PLN B cells, with a concomitant decrease in the percentage of CD8(+) PLN T cells. Next, the PLNA was conducted in mice gavaged three times with either OX or vehicle alone (olive oil). Mice pretreated with OX had suppressed PLN reactions following the footpad injection of OX (decrease in PLN size, weight, and cellularity), which was associated with an increase in the percentage of PLN CD8(+)T cells. In contrast, oral pretreatment with OX had no observable effect on the PLN reaction induced following footpad injection of the irrelevant hapten dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Adoptive transfer studies were conducted to examine the mechanism of PLN hyporesponsiveness. It was found that either (1) unfractionated splenocytes or (2) purified CD8(+) splenocytes, but not (3) purified CD4(+) splenocytes isolated from mice gavaged with OX adoptively transferred PLN suppression to naive BALB/c mice. Because OX is not a pharmaceutical, we also examined the NSAID diclofenac (DF) (Voltaren). Like OX, DF caused dose-dependent increases in PLN size, weight, and cellularity in naive mice. Furthermore, like OX, the diclofenac-induced PLN reaction was attenuated in mice that had been orally pretreated three times with DF. However, splenocytes from mice orally treated with DF were not able to adoptively transfer PLN hyporesponsiveness. Collectively, these observations demonstrate that both OX and DF are potent immunostimulators in the PLNA. As importantly, these results demonstrate that the immunostimulating potential of OX and DF in the PLNA is significantly decreased in mice orally exposed to the respective drug, possibly due to the presence of a cellular mechanism of oral tolerance. For OX, the mechanism appears to involve, in part, CD8(+) T cells, whereas the mechanism(s) associated with PLN hyporesponsiveness using DF remain to be defined.     

Clearing a blind spot in knee arthroscopy: popliteal bursa

Each arthroscopic portal to the knee has a blind area that cannot be inspected directly. In particular, visualization of the posterior compartment is difficult to access. Although arthroscopic procedures for the posterior compartment of the knee joint have been developed through posteromedial, posterolateral and posterior trans-septal portal, the popliteal bursa remains as an area that is difficult to access and manipulate. We report a surgical procedure that can examine one of the blind spots in knee arthroscopy, popliteal bursa.     

膝上外侧骨皮瓣的临床应用

目的 介绍以膝上外侧动脉或膝最上外侧动脉为蒂的股骨远端皮瓣、骨瓣、骨皮瓣游离移植修复手、前臂远端皮肤软组织、骨及复合组织缺损的方法。方法 在３０侧红色乳胶灌注的下肢标本上，解剖观察了膝上外侧动脉及膝量上外侧动脉的起始、走行、分支、分布及吻合情况，在此基础上设计了以膝上外侧动脉或膝最上外侧动脉为蒂的股骨远端骨皮瓣。结果：应用膝上外侧动脉蒂骨皮瓣３例、皮瓣、例、骨瓣１例，膝最上外侧动脉蒂骨皮瓣１例、皮     

Sclerosing therapy: an alternative treatment for popliteal cyst in children

During a 6-year period 31 patients with popliteal cyst were treated by sclerosing therapy with ethoxysclerol 1%. The injection was repeated after 3–4 weeks. In 14 patients 3 interventions were necessary. Four patients required more than three treatments, but 3 of them had been operated upon previously. In our patients, the ethoxysclerol sclerotherapy produced good results without recurrences. Offprint requests to: P. Németh     

腓肠肌瓣在腘血管损伤并大面积皮肤撕脱伤中的应用

目的:探讨胭动静脉损伤并同侧下肢大面积皮肤撕脱伤的治疗方法。方法:对6例胭动静脉损伤并下肢大面积皮肤撕脱伤者,在修复血管后用以腓肠内或外侧血管为蒂的腓肠肌瓣逆向旋转覆盖外露的腘动静脉,再行游离植皮修复创面。结果:6例经上述方法处理后均得以保肢。随访0.6-3.2年,患者能正常行走,上下楼梯无影响,患踝跖屈肌力无明显下降,膝关节伸0°,过伸5-10°,屈曲可达90-110°,患者对治疗满意。结论:利用腓肠内(外)侧血管为蒂的旋转腓肠肌瓣覆盖损伤外露的胭动静脉联合游离植皮修复创面是处理胭动静脉损伤并下肢大面积皮肤撕脱伤的一种简单、省时、实用的治疗方法,适合急诊处理,可获得良好的功能恢复。     

Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm after a revision of total knee arthroplasty: endovascular treatment with a stent graft

Injury to the popliteal artery during total knee arthroplasty is a very rare but dangerous complication. Several mechanisms are capable of generating a direct trauma to the vessel, like posterior retractor and oscillating saw. We report a case of popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm in a 52-year-old woman that occurred during revision of total knee arthroplasty, requiring emergency repair by means of percutaneous endovascular covered stenting.     

Revascularisation later than 24h after popliteal artery trauma: is it worthwhile?

BACKGROUND: Traumatic popliteal artery injury carries heavy morbidity. Ischaemic time is an important factor affecting limb survival. In developing countries most patients present late for repair and there are no distinct guidelines in deciding for revascularisation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with popliteal artery trauma who had presented at least 24h after injury were included in the study. Individuals with dead foot were excluded; participants underwent either amputation or revascularisation. RESULTS: Among 30 patients entered in the study, 3 underwent amputation; of these, 2 had complete paralysis with partial sensory loss and 1 had complete sensory and motor loss. The rate of amputation was significantly higher among patients with motor deficit (p=0.008) but not among those with sensory deficit. CONCLUSIONS: Revascularisation can be successful for patients who retain only one foot movement. We recommend revascularisation also for cases presenting late and with complete motor deficit below the knee, but without mottling.     

Popliteal artery pseudo-aneurysm secondary to femoral osteochondroma: a case report and literature review

A case of pseudo-aneurysm of the popliteal artery secondary to an osteochondroma of the femur in a young adult is described.