Anatomical Landmark of Descending Genicular Artery for Minimidvastus Approach of the Knee
Satit Thiengwittayaporn MD*, Somkhuan Paradeerujira MD*, Aree Tanavalee MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the anatomical course of descending genicular artery and to identify a safety zone for
minimidvastus approach.
Material and Method: Forty-eight knees from twenty-four fresh cadavers were dissected to identify the
descending genicular artery, and to measure the distance between such artery and superomedial pole of the
patella as well as the entry angle of such artery to the perpendicular line of the vertical axis of the patella.
Results : The average distance between the descending genicular artery and superomedial pole of the patella
was 8.1 millimeters (0-19 millimeters) and the average entry angle of such artery to the patella was 44.5
degrees (32-60 degrees).
Conclusion : The safety zone for splitting the vastus medialis in minimidvastus approach was the angle of not
more than 32 degrees from the perpendicular line of the vertical axis of the patella. However, there is no safety
zone in term of the distance between the dissected vastus medialis and the superiormedial border of the
patella.
Keywords : Descending genicular artery, Minimidvastus approach, Total knee arthroplasty
