Study on Communicating Branches of Sural Nerve: Review of Literature and its Clinical Implications.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Variations of nerve are not only of anatomic and embryological interest but also of clinical importance. Their adequate knowledge will help in increasing surgical precision and decreasing morbidity. Materials and Methods: In the present study the communicating branches of sural nerve were studied. The material for the present study comprised of 60 lower extremities belonging to 30 adult human cadavers obtained from Department of Anatomy, GMC, Amritsar, India. The sural nerve was identified and traced downward in the limb. Result: In the present study these communicating branches arose either from lateral sural cutaneous nerve (branch of common peroneal nerve) or superficial peroneal nerve (intermediate dorsal cutaneous branch) or from tibial nerve itself. Discussion: Sural nerve is usually used as grafting material. So these described variations are helpful for planning operative approaches that minimize risk of sural nerve injury. Moreover the anatomic course of nerve in distal leg and ankle makes it susceptible to local trauma and also to increased risk of injury during surgical intervention at ankle.