The tibial nerve and its vasculature: an anatomical evaluation / El nervio tibial y su vasculatura: una evaluación anatómica

The study has contributed to evaluate the tibial nerve and its vasculature anatomically. Ten preserved cadavers (5 male, 5 female) have been used for this study. Each cadaver was injected with red latex and through incisions the tibial nerve was exposed at the level of bifurcation of sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve in 85 % cadavers was located between middle and lower thirds at upper angle of popliteal fossa; whereas, in 15 % cadavers it was present below the piriformis muscle in gluteal region. The total length of the tibial nerve was at a mean of 65.26±14.42 cm in males and 64.79±67.61 cm in females, without significantly different. Its total diameter was at a mean of 5.51±1.55 mm, with a mean of 4.11±0.88 mm at the popliteal fossa and a mean of 3.24±0.81mm at its termination deep to the flexor retinaculum in male cadavers. In female; the means were 5.11±0.21 mm, 3.97±1.78 mm and 3.14 ± 0.03 mm respectively without significance difference. It was concluded that tibial nerve has sufficient and good blood supply. Moreover, it can be utilized as allogeneic vascularized nerve graft to repair sizable nerves after limb salvage.

El estudio ha contribuido a evaluar anatómicamente el nervio tibial y su vasculatura. Se han utilizado diez cadáveres preservados (5 hombres, 5 mujeres) para este estudio. Cada cadáver fue inyectado con látex rojo y a través de incisiones el nervio tibial fue expuesto al nivel de la bifurcación del nervio ciático. El nervio tibial en el 85 % de los cadáveres se localizó entre los tercios medio e inferior en el ángulo superior de la fosa poplítea; mientras que en el 15 % de los cadáveres estaba presente debajo del músculo piriforme en la región glútea. La longitud total media del nervio tibial fue de 65,26±14,42 cm en hombres y 64,79±67,61 cm en mujeres, sin diferencias significativas. Su diámetro total se situó en una media de 5,51±1,55 mm, con una media de 4,11±0,88 mm en la fosa poplítea y una media de 3,24 ± 0,81 mm en su terminación profunda al retináculo flexor en cadáveres masculinos. En mujeres; Las medias fueron 5,11±0,21 mm, 3,97±1,78 mm y 3,14±0,03 mm, respectivamente, sin diferencia significativas. Se concluyó que el nervio tibial tiene suficiente y buen suministro de sangre. Además, se puede utilizar como injerto de nervio vascularizado alogénico para reparar nervios importantes después de la recuperación de miembros.

Hypoplastic posterior tibial artery and the enlarged peroneal artery supplying the posterior crural region: a rare variation / Artéria tibial posterior hipoplásica e a artéria peroneal aumentada suprindo a região crural posterior: uma variação rara

Arterial variations of distal parts of lower extremities are well-documented and can be demonstrated with the help of Doppler ultrasound or by arteriography. However, absence or variation of posterior tibial artery is considered a rare finding. We present a case of hypoplastic posterior tibial artery that terminated by supplying soleus muscle. The variant arterial supply to the sole was provided by the enlarged peroneal artery that continued as the lateral plantar artery. The awareness of these variations is important to vascular surgeons while performing arterial reconstructions in femorodistal bypass graft procedures, and also to orthopedists during surgical clubfoot release.

Variações arteriais de partes distais dos membros inferiores estão bem documentadas e podem ser demonstradas com o auxílio de ultra-sonografia Doppler ou por arteriografia. Entretanto, a ausência ou variação da artéria tibial posterior é um raro achado. Apresentamos um caso de artéria tibial posterior hipoplásica que terminava suprindo o músculo solear. Esse suprimento arterial variante foi fornecido pela artéria peroneal aumentada que continuava como artéria plantar lateral. Estar consciente dessas variações é importante para cirurgiões vasculares ao realizarem reconstruções arteriais em procedimentos de derivação femorodistal, bem como para ortopedistas durante correção cirúrgica do pé torto.