Topographic Anatomy Of Tibial Nerve And Its Terminal Branches In Relation With The Posterior Tarsal Tunnel With Clinical Correlations

Background: Variations in the level of terminal branching of tibial nerve into medial and lateral plantar nerve inthe posterior tarsal tunnel and its relations with posterior tibial artery has tremendous clinical importance.Tibial nerve and its terminal branches are at risk of entrapment in the posterior tarsal tunnel which is called astarsal tunnel syndrome. The results of surgeries for tarsal tunnel syndrome are variable or suboptimal. Thereason could be poor understanding of detailed anatomy of the tarsal tunnel and potential sites of nervecompression. Information regarding the same can help in endoscopic decompression surgeries for tarsal tunnelsyndrome with minimal exposure of the region to be operated. Knowledge regarding these variations can alsohelp the anesthetists to give ultrasonography guided ankle block without puncturing the blood vessels.Materials and Methods: The authors have studied topographic anatomy of tibial nerve and its terminal branchesin relation with posterior tarsal tunnel in 50 formalinized cadaveric feet. Authors divided the location of divisionof tibial nerve in posterior tarsal tunnel (PTT) into seven levels and also categorized the distance between thepoint of terminal division of tibial nerve (TN) and point of terminal division of posterior tibial artery (PTA) in fourcategories.Results and conclusion: Tibial nerve divides relatively higher than the posterior tibial artery in the PTT. Both lie inthe same compartment in the tarsal tunnel. The tibial nerve is situated deep to posterior tibial blood vessels .Theneurovascular bundle is covered by an unyielding fibrous tissue which could be the reason for the entrapment.Commonest division level of tibial nerve in PTT is level 4 which means the division lies in the range of 6mm to10mm above the distal border of flexor retinaculum. In 52% of feet the distance between point of division of TNand point of division of PTA is in a range between 0-5mm above the distal border of flexor retinaculum fallingunder category 1.

Superficial course of the medial plantar nerve: case report / 대한해부학회지

The medial and lateral plantar nerves are branched from the tibial nerve and move to the tip of the toes. A variation of medial plantar nerve was found on the left side of a 78-year-old Korean male cadaver. The tibial nerve was divided into the lateral and medial plantar nerves beneath the plantar flexor. The medial plantar nerve passed deep to plantar aponeurosis and superficial to the flexor digitorum brevis. It gave off a common plantar digital nerve and then divided into three proper plantar digital nerves near the metatarsal bases. In this article, we report a superficial course of the medial plantar nerve and describe its unique morphology and discuss the clinical significance of this variation.

Intraneural Ganglion Cyst of the Peripheral Nerve: Two Cases Report / 대한골관절종양학회지

Ganglion cysts that occurred within sheaths of peripheral nerves have been documented in literatures, but it is relatively rare condition. The peroneal nerve is the most common site of involvement. Other reported sites of involvement are the radial, ulnar, median, sciatic, tibial and posterior interosseous nerves. We report a case of the intraneual ganglion cyst within peroneal nerve and another case of the intraneural ganglion cyst within a medial plantar nerve that were successfully excised without neurologic complication.

Anatomical Landmark Analysis of Medial Plantar Proper Digital Nerve:a Cadaver Dissection Study

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the bifurcating points of medial plantar proper digital (MPPD) nerve by using anatomical landmarks on plane coordinates and thus determine the ideal stimulation site for MPPD sensory nerve conduction studies. METHOD: We dissected 10 feet from five adult cadavers and identified the bifurcation points of the MPPD nerve. Two reference lines in relation to anatomical landmarks were defined. A vertical line connecting the mid-point of heel (H) and tip of great toe (G) was defined as the HG line. A transverse line connecting the navicular tuberosity (N) and tuberosity of 5th metatarsal bone (M) was defined as the NM line. The bifurcation points of the 10 MPPD nerves were expressed in X, Y coordinates in relation to these two axis. RESULTS: The bifurcation points were located at approximately 40% (40.0+/-2.4; mean+/-SD) of the HG line from the mid-point of heel (H) and at approximately 37% (36.5+/-3.6) of the NM line from the navicular tuberosity (N). The majority of these points were found to be clustered close to the HG line. CONCLUSION: The data on the MPPD nerve bifurcation points may be useful to localize the appropriate stimulation site that could be used in MPPD nerve conduction studies.

Medial Plantar Nerve Injury after Screw Fixation of the Calcaneus Fracture

We present a case of medial plantar nerve injury by screw tip after open reduction and internal fixation of intraarticular calcaneus fracture. We reviewed the risk and prevention technique of medial plantar nerve injury in fixing the calcaneus fracture.

Morfometría de los Nervios Tibial y Plantares / Morphometry of the Tibial and Plantar Nerves

La inervación motora de los músculos del pie y susvariaciones anatómicasson importantes para el correcto diagnóstico de las lesiones de nervios periféricos y su tratamiento posterior. Con frecuencia, el pie es afectado por accidentes y la microcirugía reparadora requiere de abundante y detallada información anatómica para efectuar con éxito sus procedimientos. La falta de información morfométrica y estereológica de los nervios destinados a la musculatura del pie, nos motivó a plantear esta investigación. Se estudiaron 5 pies de cadáveres, adultos, en los cuales se disecaron la terminación del nervio tibial y el origen de los nervios plantares, medial y lateral. A través de cortes histológicos transversales de los nervios tibial y plantares, obtuvimos información cuantitativa sobre medidas morfométricas (número de fascículos, área de los fascículos, número de fibras por fascículo, número de fibras por nervio). Los resultados obtenidos fueron tratados estadísticamente y se registraron fotográficamente las muestras más representativas. El número de fascículos en el nervio tibial varió entre 19 y 39 con un promedio de 28,6 (D.S. 7.13), en los nervios plantares laterales varió entre 8 y 18 con un promedio de 14,8 (D.S. 3.96) y en los nervios plantares mediales varió entre 9 y 19 con un promedio de 12,4 (D.S. 3,91). El área promedio de los fascículos en los nervios tibial, plantar medial y plantar lateral fue de 3,66mm², 1,8mm² y 1,48 mm², respectivamente. Con los datos obtenidos esperamos contribuir al conocimiento morfológico y morfométrico de las estructuras nerviosas del pie, sirviendo de apoyo anatómico y quirúrgico.

Motor innervations of foot muscles and anatomic variations are very important for the correct diagnose of the lesions of peripheral nerves and their afterward treatment. Frequently, the foot is affected by accidents and reparatory microsurgery, which requires abundant and detailed anatomic information to be able to carry out successfully all necessary procedures. Lack of morphometric and stereological facts of the nerves of foot muscles, motivated us to execute this research. Here, five adult corpse feet were studied, where the tibial termination nerves, the origin of the medial and lateral plantar nerves. With transversal histological cuts of plantar and tibial nerves, quantitative information was obtained on morphometric measures (fascicule numbers, fascicule areas, number of fibers per fascicule, number of fibers per nerve). The obtained results were statistically analyzed and the most representative samples, photographically registered. The number of fascicules in the tibiae nerve varied between 19 to 39, with an average of 28.6 (D.S. 7.13), in the lateral plantar nerves it varied between 8 to 18, with an average of 14,8 (D.S. 3.96) and in the medial plantar nerves, it varied between 9 to 19, with an average of 12,4 (D.S. 3,91). The average area of the fascicules, in the tibia, medial plantar and plantar lateral nerves, was 3,66mm², 1,8mm² and 1,48 mm². With the obtained data, it is expected to contribute to morphological and morphometric knowledge of foot nerve structure, which can be used for anatomicsustain, as well as chirurgic support.

Transtarsal Conduction Velocities of Medial and Lateral Plantar Nerve Recorded by Orthodromic Near-Nerve Recordings

OBJECTIVE: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is relatively rare and can be difficult to diagnose with conventional electrodiagnostic techniques. To increase the diagnostic sensitivity, we measured transtarsal conduction velocities of medial and lateral plantar nerves recorded by orthodromic near-nerve recording. METHOD: Twenty normal subjects (aged 24~59) were studied. For below flexor retinaculum (BFR) recordings, near-nerve needle recording electrodes were positioned posteriorly to the flexor digitorum longus tendon in medial plantar nerve and anteriorly to the calcaneus in lateral plantar nerve at the level of lower border of medial malleolus. For above flexor retinaculum (AFR) recordings, near-nerve needle recording electrodes were positioned anteriorly to the Achilles tendon 4 cm proximal to the BFR recording electrodes in medial and lateral plantar nerves. Stimulating ring electrodes were placed to the digit I and V. RESULTS: Transtarsal latencies and conduction velocities for medial plantar nerve were 0.7+/-0.1 msec, 56 6 m/sec, respectively. Transtarsal latencies and conduction velocities for lateral plantar nerve were 0.8+/-0.1 msec, 54+/-6 m/sec, respectively. CONCLUSION: This approach may improve the diagnostic sensitivity in TTS.

Distal Motor Nerve Conduction Studies of Medial Plantar Nerve, Lateral Plantar Nerve and Inferior Calcaneal Nerve

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reference values for the diagnosis of isolated entrapment neuropathies of medial and lateral plantar nerve and inferior calcaneal nerve distal to the tarsal tunnel. METHOD: The subjects were neurologically healthy 30 adults (15 males, 15 females). Distal motor nerve conduction study of medial and lateral plantar nerves and inferior calcaneal nerve was performed. The recording muscles for medial and lateral plantar nerves and inferior calcaneal nerve were flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digiti minimi brevis, and abductor digiti minimi pedis, respectively. The stimulation was done at distal and proximal to the tarsal tunnel to differentiate the tarsal tunnel syndrome and the entrapment neuropathy of distal to the tarsal tunnel. The distance of recording and distal stimulation site was fixed to 10 cm for medial and lateral plantar nerves. The skin temperature was maintained 33degrees C or above. The proximal latency, distal latency, peak to peak amplitude, conduction velocity and residual latency were measured. The reference values were obtained by 95 percentile values. RESULTS: The reference values for the diagnosis of isolated entrapment neuropathies of medial plantar nerve, lateral plantar nerve and inferior calcaneal nerve distal to tarsal tunnel are as follows. 1) Medial plantar nerve: distal latency, > 4.3 msec; side to side difference, > 0.7 msec 2) Lateral plantar nerve: distal latency, > 4.1 msec; side to side difference, > 0.6 msec 3) Latency difference of medial and lateral plantar nerve: > 0.7 msec 4) Inferior calcaneal nerve: distal latency, > 4.3 msec; distal peak latency, > 7.2 msec; side to side difference of distal onset latency, > 1.5 msec; side to side difference of distal peak latency, > 0.8 msec; residual latency, > 3.0 msec CONCLUSION: The distal motor nerve conduction method used in this study and the reference values could be used to differentiate entrapment neuropathies of medial and lateral plantar nerve and inferior calcaneal nerve distal to the tarsal tunnel from tarsal tunnel syndrome.

The Value of the Medial Plantar Sensory Nerve Conduction Study in Diabetic Patient

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to obtain the reference values of latency and amplitude of the medial plantar sensory nerve action potential(SNAP) in normal controls and to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of medial plantar sensory nerve conduction study(NCS) in diabetic neuropathy. METHOD: Thirty healthy controls(mean age, 48.7 years; range, 38~59 years) and 33 diabetic patients(mean age, 50.8 years; range, 37~64 years) were included in this study. The inclusion criteria for diabetic patients were subjects with the normal peroneal and tibial compound muscle action potentials, obtainable sural SNAPs and intact pressure-perception to Semmes-Weinstein monofilament 5.07. RESULTS: The medial plantar sensory nerve action potentials were obtainable in all control subjects and the reference values of onset latency and peak to peak amplitude were 4.29+/-0.49 msec and 3.1+/-1.34 V, respectively. All 33 diabetic patients showed the normal latency and 3 of them showed the low amplitude in sural SNAPs. The medial plantar SNAPs were obtainable in 24 diabetic patients. Among 9 patients with unobtainable medial plantar SNAPs, 6 showed the normal sural SNAPs and 3 showed the low sural SNAPs. The sensitivities of medial plantar SNAPs to sural nerve and sural SNAPs to medial plantar sensory nerve were 100%(3/3) and 27.3%(3/11) respectively. CONCLUSION: We concluded that medial plantar sensory NCS was more valuable in the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy than the sural NCS and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (North Coast Medical Inc, USA).