Anatomical variations in the termination of the small saphenous vein

KAHRAMAN YILDIRIM F. G., AKKIN S. M., DEMİRCİ M. S., Müftüoğlu A., ÜZEL M.

1st Joint Meeting of EACA & AACA, Graz, Austria, 7 - 11 July 2003, pp.170-171

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: Graz
  • Country: Austria
  • Page Numbers: pp.170-171
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the termination patterns of the small saphenous vein by means of clinical anatomy. We studied 96 lower extremities of 48 fixed cadavers. Gross anatomical dissections were carried out to observe the termination of the small saphenous vein at the level of the popliteal fossa. According to our findings the termination level of the small saphenous vein varied between 1.3 cm below and 4.7 cm above the femoral condyles. Four different types of termination patterns were determined. The first type ended in 68 cases (70.8%) in the popliteal vein in accordance with the classical definition. In 15 cases (15.6%) the small saphenous vein ascended to the femoral region without entering the popliteal vein to
end in the femoral vein. In nine cases (9.4%) it entered the popliteal vein and also sent a small anastomotic vein toward the medial aspect of the thigh to join the great saphenous vein. In four cases (4.2%) it ended in both femoral and popliteal veins. Cases ending only in great saphenous vein or in both great saphenous vein and femoral vein were not observed. The termination level of the small saphenous vein at the popliteal fossa is approximately 1.87 cm superior to the femoral condyles. Usually the small saphenous vein ends in the popliteal vein but it may enter directly the femoral vein in 15.6% cases.