Anatomical study of popliteal artery branch variation based on CT angiography of the lower extremity
Xu Yujian1, He Xiaoqing2 , Xu Yongqing2, Ye Hong3, Luo Haotian2, Yang Xi2, Zhang Xulin2, Zhao Wanqiu2
1The Graduate School, Army Military Medical University,Chongqing 400000, China; 2Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming 650032,China; 3Department of Surgery, PLA 31636 Army Hospital, Kunming 650032, China
Abstract:Objective To study the variation rate and related anatomical parameters of popliteal artery branches based on CT angiography (CTA) of the lower extremity.Methods The lower-extremity CTA data of 205 patients (387 limbs) obtained before operation at the 920th Hospital of the Joint Service Support Force of the People's Liberation Army from June 2014 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The study population included 153 males, 52 females, aged 12-79 years, 182 lower limbs, 23 unilateral limbs, 195 left limbs, and 192 right limbs. All of the data were analyzed by Mimics software, and 3D reconstruction of the leg artery was carried out. The anatomical variation of the popliteal artery branches was observed, and statistics of the variation rate of popliteal artery branches of the Kim Ⅲ type and its subtypes according to the Kim-Lippert classification were recorded. Measurement and comparison of the anatomical parameters of the popliteal artery normal branches, as well as the variation of these branches, including the outer diameter of the starting point, the outer diameter of the branch end, the length of the branch artery, the loss of the branch artery to the ankle joint, and horizontal length, among others, were also carried out.Results Among 205 patients, 33 (43 limbs) had popliteal artery branch variations. The variation rate of type ⅢA popliteal artery branches was 4.1% (16/387), that of type ⅢB popliteal artery branches was 3.4% (13/387), that of type ⅢC popliteal artery branches was 0.26% (1/387), and that of type ⅢD popliteal artery branches was 1.8% (7/387). Five patients (6 limbs) (6/387, 1.55%) showed unique types of variations. These variations mainly manifested as the absence of anterior or posterior tibial arteries and thickening of the peroneal artery replacing the formation of the dorsalis or plantar arteries. Twenty eight cases with Kim Ⅲ anatomical variations showed popliteal artery branches missing in the middle and lower 1/3 of the leg and the main artery branches were incomplete. The lengths of the variant branches of the posterior tibial artery (type ⅢA), anterior tibial artery (type ⅢB), and peroneal artery (type ⅢA) were (176.8±51.2) mm, (187.9±73.7) mm, and (153.4±58.5) mm, respectively. The diameter of the popliteal artery was smaller than that of the popliteal artery (all P values<0.01).Conclusions The total variation rate of popliteal artery branches is 11.1%. The anatomy of popliteal artery branches can be accurately judged by CTA before operation to provide an anatomical basis for reducing the risk of clinical lower limb operation.
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Xu Yujian, He Xiaoqing,Xu Yongqing, Ye Hong, Luo Haotian, Yang Xi, Zhang Xulin, Zhao Wanqiu. Anatomical study of popliteal artery branch variation based on CT angiography of the lower extremity. Chinese Journal of Anatomy and Clinics, 2020, 25(5): 472-477.
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