Abstract
Introduction: This is a report of a new anatomical feature in the knee. This finding to our knowledge has never been described before. The feature consists of a shallow oval impression in the synovium on the femoral surface of the floor of the suprapatellar pouch over the lateral side just before the trochlear entry to the lateral femoral condyle. Clinical correlation was considered to be a separate study and not part of this anatomic description.
Methods: During arthroscopy of the knee the presence or absence of the “entry feature” was noted, entered on a database consecutively and prospectively. All arthroscopies were carried out by the senior author. 21 cadaveric knees (formalin preserved) were dissected.
Results: Out of 457 consecutive knee arthroscopies carried out by the senior author the “entry feature” was present in 294 and not noticed in 163. Histology of the synovium in this region was normal. 21 formalin preserved cadaveric knees demonstrated the “entry feature” in 17 and absent in 4.
Conclusion: We propose the “entry feature” as a new anatomical landmark for the arthroscopic knee surgeon. It gives an initial impression of the patellar position on the synovial floor just before commencing its excursion towards the trochlear.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
