Clinical anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve in the distal leg

Abstract

Applied anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve in real clinical situations requires a good knowledge of the anatomical relationships and their common variations. Here we present an anatomoclinical description not only of the normal superficial peroneal nerve but also of its different variations with surgical implications based on twelve lower limbs. In order to gain some landmarks, the followings measurements were taken: a) distance from the upper end of the fibular head to the lower eminence of the lateral malleolus; b) number of branches from the nerve when it emerges through the superficial sural fascia; c) distance from the nerve emergence point to the lateral malleolus; d) distance from the nerve division to the lateral malleolus. We also recorded the site were the nerve pierces the sural fascia from the anterior or lateral muscular compartment. The data obtained seem to be sufficiently reliable for usual clinical practice, but it must be taken into account that frequent and important variations may occur.