Talonavicular joint arthroscopic portals: A cadaveric study of feasibility and safety

• Four arthroscopic portals for talonavicular arthroscopy are proposed.
• Tested portals had mean distances from neurovascular structures more than 8 mm.
• Superficial neurovascular structures show to have more anatomical variations.
• It is safe to perform talonavicular arthroscopy using these portals.

BackgroundThe objectives of the study were to evaluate the safety of hypothetical arthroscopic portals from talonavicular joint and to evaluate their reproducibility and enforceability.Methods19 cadaveric feet were marked and four arthroscopic portals were made (medial, dorsomedial, dorsolateral and lateral). The specimens were dissected in layers and the distances between neurovascular structures and the trocars were measured.ResultsMedial and dorsomedial portals were in average 8.3 and 8.7, respectively, to the saphenous vein and nerve. Dorsolateral portal was in average 8.1 mm to the deep peroneal nerve and dorsalis pedis artery, and 9.1 mm to the medial dorsal cutaneous branch of the superficial peroneal nerve. Lateral portal was in average 12.3 mm to the intermediate dorsal cutaneous branch of the superficial peroneal nerve.ConclusionTested portals shown to have a good safety margin for the foot neurovascular deep dorsal structures and an acceptable safety margin for the superficial neurovascular structures.