Knee pain and the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve

• Published in: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Vol. 91; no. 11; pp. 573 - 575
• Main Authors: Tennent, T D, Birch, N C, Holmes, M J, Birch, R, Goddard, N J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-11-1998; Royal Society of Medicine
• Subjects: Adult; Arthralgia - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Knee - innervation; Knee - surgery; Knee Injuries - complications; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuroma - surgery; Orthopedic surgery; Patella - injuries; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Peripheral Nerves - anatomy & histology; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Human; Postoperative; Nervous system diseases; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Cardiovascular disease; Anatomy; Tibial plateau; Vascular disease; Pain; Etiology; Surgery; Long saphenous vein; Clinical investigation; Neurological disorder; Cadaver
• ISSN: 0141-0768; 1758-1095
• DOI: 10.1177/014107689809101106

Pain over the front of the knee is common after surgery or trauma but often a definite diagnosis is difficult to make. Over the past year we have seen five cases in which the pain could be ascribed to damage to a branch of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve. Two were subsequent to trauma and three to surgical procedures. In all five cases surgical exploration gave symptomatic relief. Eight cadaveric knees were prosected to explore further the anatomy of this nerve in relation to the injuries. Injury to one of these branches should be considered in cases of persistent anterior, anteromedial or anterolateral knee pain or neurological symptoms following surgery or trauma.