BLOOD-VESSELS OF THE SINUS TARSI AND THE SINUS TARSI SYNDROME

This study describes the arterial and venous blood vessels in the sinu s tarsi of a series of nine anatomical specimens and in a traumaticall y amputated leg, studied by arteriography. The sinus tarsi artery was formed in all cases from anastomoses between various arteries of the l ateral region of the foot. These usually included the anterior lateral malleolar, and proximal lateral tarsal arteries; in 70% there was a b ranch from the distal lateral tarsal artery, and in 30% a branch from the peroneal artery. In all cases, there were anastomoses within the s inus tarsi between the sinus tarsi artery and the canalis tarsi artery , derived from the posterior tibial artery. Whatever its origins, the sinus tarsi artery was the principal supplier of intrasinusal structur es and of the talus. There was a large venous plexus in the sinus tars i, which drained particularly the venous outflow from the talus and th e anterior part of the capsule of the posterior talocalcaneal joint to the lateral and medial venous systems of the foot. Posttraumatic fibr otic changes in the wall and surrounding tissue of the veins, causing disturbance of venous outflow and increased intrasinusal pressure, are proposed by the authors as one possible factor in the pathogenesis of the sinus tarsi syndrome. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.