Clinically relevant topography of the great saphenous vein and saphenofemoral junction, a study from adult embalmed cadavers.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the morphology of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is important because of its clinical applications and involvement in venous diseases. In this study, the aim was to determine the morphology and topography of the saphenous opening and to perform side-based and gender-based comparisons. The objective of this study was to describe the precise topography of the GSV with respect to the medial malleolus and saphenous nerves. METHODS: This is an institution-based cross-sectional study including 40 lower extremities from 20 adult embalmed cadavers. The morphometric data was obtained by applying a digital Vernier caliper. RESULTS: The shape of the saphenous opening was noted. In 29 extremities (72.5%), the saphenous opening was vertically oval, with a round shape in 8 (20%) and a kidney shape in 3 (7.5%). There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the right- and left-sided morphometric data. The present study observed that females had smaller dimensions of the saphenous opening and it was more supero-medially placed than in males (p<0.05) in relation to the pubic tubercle. In 24 lower extremities (60%), the saphenous nerve ran anterior to the GSV, and in the remaining 16 (40%), the saphenous nerve was divided into two branches running anterior and posterior to the GSV between the knee and ankle joints. CONCLUSION: The present study provides important data on the morphology and topography of the saphenous opening and GSV in relation to the pubic tubercle, medial malleolus, and saphenous nerve. However, the data would be more accurate with a larger sample size.