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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

Posterolateral Approach to the Tibia



- Anatomy:
    - anterior compartment
    - lateral compartment
    - deep posterior compartment:
    - superfical posterior

- Anatomy:
    - position: either prone or on side, with the affected extremity uppermost;
    - incision:
            - incision is made just posterior to the fibula along the lateral border of the gastrocnemius;
            - cutaneous branch of the peroneal nerve must be protected;
    - inter-neural plane:
            - access to deep posterior compartment is between lateral and superficial posterior compartments;
            - develop plane between superficial compartment posteriorly & peroneal muscles anteriorly;
            - detach the distal part of the origin of the soleus from fibula & retract it posteriorly and medially;
            - develop plane between FHL posteriorly & peroneal muscles anteriorly;
    - attachments of the FHL to the posterior surface of the fibula are freed;
    - once the FHL is cleared off of the fibula, take care to avoid the peroneal artery (disssection proceeds between FHL and fibula);
    - direct dissection toward interosseous membrane;
            - detach tibialis posterior from interosseous membrane;
            - posterior tibial artery & tibial nerve lie in protected position behind tibialis posterior & FHL;
    - continue dissection along interosseous membrane to lateral border of tibia;
    - detach subperiosteally muscles that arise from posterior surface of tibia;
    - posterior surface of tibial shaft may be completely exposed, except for the proximal fourth which should remain intact (gives rise to popliteus);








Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.