Variety in Topography of Small Saphenous Vein in the Popliteal Fossa

Objective: to describe the possible types of the interrelations of the small saphenous vein and popliteal vein within the area of the popliteal fossa, as well as to study the distribution of the types among patients of both the genders and different somatotypes. Material and methods. 163 patients (326 extremities) of both the genders without signs of vascular pathology were examined by the method of duplex ultrasound scanning. According to Chernorutsky`s classification, the patients were divided into three groups: dolihomorphs, mesomorphs, brachymorphs. The percentage of different types of the topography of the small saphenous vein was calculated among the examined patients. Results. The term “saphenopopliteal pattern” has been introduced to characterize the anatomical interrelation of the small saphenous vein and popliteal vein within the area of the popliteal fossa. Five basic saphenopopliteal patterns were described including rare ones when the small saphenous vein opens into the gastrocnemius veins. It has been found that the patterns with the saphenopopliteal junction prevail (65.6 %), and in 28.3 % cases the small saphenous vein did not have any connection with the popliteal vein. The gender factor does not have any effect on the pattern type (р = 0.311) but the somatotype factor does (р = 0.038). It has also been determined that there is no direct connection between the small saphenous vein and popliteal vein in one thirds cases in the dolihomorphic and mesomorphic patients (34.5 % and 35 %, respectively), whereas the saphenopopliteal junction develops in 85.7 % cases in the brachymorphic patients. Conclusion. The proposed classification of the types of the topography of the small saphenous vein within the area of the popliteal fossa could be applied for the evaluation of the venous beds of the lower extremities by the method of duplex ultrasound scanning.