Posterior Knee Capsule Nerve Plexus

plexus nervosus capsulae posterioris genus

The posterior knee capsule receives innervation from a plexus of articular branches from the tibial nerve, common peroneal nerve, and the obturator nerve's articular branch, forming a dense posterior capsular nerve network. This plexus is the target for posterior knee genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation.

Region: Knee

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Posterior knee capsular pain from chronic knee arthritis and posterior capsular contracture is addressed by posterior genicular nerve ablation targeting this plexus. The posterior capsular branches from the tibial nerve are the primary contributors and are ablated at the posterior femoral and tibial cortex levels. Posterior knee pain after TKA from residual posterior capsular innervation may respond to nerve ablation when conservative measures fail.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Posterior Knee Capsular Pain Syndrome

Chronic posterior knee pain from the posterior capsular nerve plexus in arthritis or capsular contracture, managed by physiotherapy and posterior genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation targeting the tibial nerve capsular branches.