Histological and morphological observations on the distribution of circum-patella nerve fibers / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the distribution of circum-patella nerve fibers in the soft tissue to provide experimental evidence,which is significant in denervation for Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).Methods Patella specimens were collected from 4 cadavers (2 cases of diabetic foot,lcase of lower extremity arterial occlusive,and 1case of car accident),all 4 of which were resected soft tissue with a dimension of 0.5cm × 0.5cm and full depth thickness around patella more than 0.5cm for histology and morphology observation.The nerve fibers histology and morphology were observed in all resected specimens with HE staining and silver-gilt glycine staining in the same field of microscopic vision.Results Anatomy found that the vascular network form skins directly involved in the patella nourish hole area and in the 10,2,4,7 clock point have found that blood vessels into the patella.There have a large number of nerve fibers near to the patella under the microscope,but there were no significant difference in the nerve fibers region distribution of all specimens.There were some into patella nerve fiber paths in side of patella soft tissue,which lied in 7,11 and 13 clock point,but outside no this phenomenon.The distribution of circum-patellar nerve fibers were described as distribution of regional concentration,which lied in much more 5,6,7 clock points and 10,11,12,1,2,clock points,in which the quadriceps tendon and patellar tendon have more than the others.In the 13 clock point,the fascia and periosteum of nourish hole area were also found in a large number of nerve fibers,and there were laminar distribution in different soft tissue layers,which were collected much more in synovial layer,fat pad,tendon near to patella.Conclusion There are much more nerve fibers near to the patella and some into patella nerve fiber paths in the medial side and nourish hole area.Nerve fibers distribution of circum-patella can be described as laminar distribution and regional concentration ,which is more in the centre,bottom more than top,outside more than inside,the bipolar more than the others.The patella denervation operation by reducing the number of peripheral nociceptors to achieve desensitization is feasible in TKA.