Partial Denervation for Neuroma Pain after Knee Anterior Tibial Tuberosity Exostectomy: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction:

Neuromas of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IBSN) can occur after direct trauma or surgical approaches to the anterior aspect of the knee. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and successful surgical management

Case Report:

A 20-year-old patient who had a history of recent anterior knee surgery at another institution presented with allodynia, dysesthesia, and a positive Tinel’s test over the surgical scar. The pain was exacerbated by light touch, was progressively worse, and was limiting sports participation and activities of daily living. A clinical diagnosis of neuroma of the IBSN was made and this was successfully treated by microsurgical neurolysis, resection of the neuroma, and burying of the stump. This resulted in complete resolution of pain.

Conclusion:

Neuromas of the IBSN can cause significant symptoms affecting activities of daily living. Microsurgical neurolysis is a useful treatment modality associated with complete resolution of pain and high patient satisfaction.

Learning Point of the Article:

The IBSN is susceptible to neuroma formation after surgery over the anteromedial aspect of the knee.

Introduction

The saphenous nerve is a branch of the femoral nerve. It is derived from the second through the fourth lumbar roots. It is a superficial structure that lies behind the posterior border of the Sartorius [1]. Its infrapatellar branch is purely sensory and innervates both the anteromedial aspect of the knee and the anteroinferior portion of the knee capsule [2, 3].

Infrapatellar pain syndrome (IPS) can be caused by trauma, such as a fall or direct blow to the knee as well as by surgical procedures such as arthroscopy [4], total knee replacement, bone-patellar tendon-bone or hamstring tendon graft harvest procedures, tibial nailing, and open anterior procedures of the knee [5].

IPS is infrequently reported in literature and can be overlooked or misdiagnosed as it develops [6]. The correct diagnosis can be elusive because anterior knee pain can be due to multiple common etiologies. IPS may lead to chronic, severe, painful saphenous neuritis, hypoesthesia, dysesthesia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and/or a painful saphenous neuroma [7, 8, 9, 10].

Pathophysiology

Neuromas were first described by Odier, in 1811, as extremely sensitive bulbous stumps of transected nerves [11]. These lesions may develop as part of the normal reparative process after nerve injury [12, 13]. They typically develop approximately 6–10 weeks after trauma with most presenting within 1–12 months after injury or surgery [12].

Two major types of neuromas have been described: Terminal and spindle neuromas [14]. After disruption of a nerve, Wallerian degeneration of the axon distal to the injury occurs.

In an attempt to restore continuity, Schwann cells of the distal portion of the nerve proliferate creating a tunnel into which the proximal axons grow. A partial or total avulsion of the nerve is followed by axonal growth. A terminal neuroma is characterized by a bulbous tangle of sprouting axons resulting from this process [11]. In contrast, spindle neuromas are found in a peripheral nerve after microtrauma from stretching or compression by local scar tissue [12].

Pain from a neuroma may be secondary to traction on the nerve by scar tissue [15], compression of the sensitive nerve endings by adjacent soft tissues [16], nerve ischemia [17], or ectopic foci of ion channels eliciting neuropathic pain [18, 19]. Peripheral upregulation of various ion channels and receptors (sodium channels, TRPA1, CGRP, alpha-1C receptors, and nerve growth factor) may also contribute to the neuropathic pain [19, 20, 21, 22, 23].

Case Report

A 20-year-old patient initially presented with a long duration of anterior knee pain which was worse on kneeling, squatting, walking downhill, and also in sports participation (snowboarding). The patient underwent tibial tuberosity exostectomy through a midline incision at another institution and had excellent initial pain relief. Pre-operative radiographs (Fig. 1) demonstrated a prominent tibial tuberosity but no other pathology. Post-operative radiographs demonstrate the appearances after tibial tuberosity exostectomy (Fig. 2).

Figure 1.

Pre-operative radiograph. Left knee, lateral view.

Figure 2.

Post-operative radiographs. Left knee, lateral view.

A few weeks after the tibial tuberosity exostectomy, the patient noted pain localized to the anteromedial region of the knee joint, at the surgical scar (Fig. 3), that was different in character to the pre-operative symptoms. He presented to our institution where it was noted that the pain was present even at rest and that there was no history of injury or significant trauma to the knee. Physical examination revealed features of allodynia with increased pain even on light palpation, dysesthesia, and a positive Tinel’s test at the scar (Fig. 3).

Figure 3.

First surgery – scar location.

The patient complained of pain at the slightest touch that was progressively worsening and restricting activities of daily life and sports participation. Due to a clear clinical localization of neuroma pain to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve (IBSN) the authors did not consider that a local anesthesia infiltration test was appropriate nor were other investigations such as electromyography, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound examination utilized. However, in less obvious cases, they can be considered a useful confirmatory diagnostic modality.

Approximately 13 months after the index procedure, a reoperation for microsurgical exploration of the IBSN was performed. The procedure was performed with optical magnification to facilitate identification of branches of the nerve in and around the scar tissue. The two branches of the IBSN were identified (Fig 4a and b). The first branch (X), ending with a neuroma, was neurolyzed and resected with the surrounding scar tissue (Fig 4c). The end of the nerve, after cauterization, was buried deep in healthy tissue (Fig. 4d: X). The second branch was neurolyzed only (Fig. 4 a, b, c: Y).

Figure 4.

Second surgery per-operative view.

The patient experienced immediate post-operative relief of neuropathic pain. At a final follow-up of 18 months, there was no recurrence of pain. The only sequelae were a residual hypoesthesia of the territory of the resected branch of the IBSN, which was not of concern to the patient.

Discussion

This case report is useful in highlighting two main learning points. The first is a reminder that the saphenous nerve and all of its branches are susceptible to injury and subsequent neuroma formation during surgical incisions placed over the anteromedial aspect of the knee. Kerver et al. highlighted that the high degree of anatomic variability of the IBSN confers a relatively high risk of iatrogenic injury to this structure [24]. The literature reports injury to the IBSN after a wide range of surgical procedures from 9.7% to 21% in total knee arthroplasty [25, 26], 28% after arthroscopic meniscectomy [27], and in 37–86% of patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction [28]. Less frequent reports include injury to the IBSN after resection of the prepatellar bursa, in tibial nailing and retrograde femoral nailing [29, 30]. Particular care is, therefore, required to minimize this risk. Several strategies have been proposed to avoid IBSN injury during surgery, such as transillumination, ultrasonography, blunt dissection, avoidance of tourniquet use, graft harvest with the knee in 90° flexion, or identification and familiarization with safe areas through cadaver studies [24, 31]. Despite these considerations, it is accepted that the IBSN has high anatomic variability and injuries can still occur despite optimum surgical technique [24, 31].

The second key learning point is, therefore, that cauterization and resection of neuromas of the IBSN are a simple and effective procedure for abolishing symptoms. Surgical management is recommended only after a trial of non-operative management which can include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, oral gamma-aminobutyric acid analog medications, capsaicin cream, physical therapy modalities, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, oral antidepressant medications, and therapeutic local anesthetic and corticosteroid injections [24, 32]. Surgical management is an excellent option when non-operative treatment fails to yield adequate symptomatic relief. Partial denervation for persistent neuroma pain of the knee is associated with high patient satisfaction and a reduction in their pre-operative pain visual analog score. Follow-up after neurectomy is associated with very good patient satisfaction and there appears to be no difference in outcome whether the follow-up period is greater or less than 2 years [33].

Conclusion

The IBSN is at high risk of iatrogenic damage during any surgery on the anteromedial aspect of the knee, especially when longitudinal incisions are used.

It is important to be familiar with the pathophysiology, anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment of IPS. Diagnosis is clinical and early recognition and microsurgical treatment should greatly decrease the suffering and disability that occurs when the proper diagnosis has not been made.

This report describes successful surgical management of a painful IBSN neuroma that was caused by a midline incision. IBSN neurectomy resulted in full resolution of pain. This report confirms that dissection and excision of neuromas of the IBSN can be useful treatment modality.

Clinical Message.

Neuromas of the IBSN can occur after direct trauma or surgical approaches to the anterior aspect of the knee. Microsurgical neurolysis is a useful treatment modality associated with complete resolution of pain and high patient satisfaction.

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