[Sonography of peripheral nerves. Part II: lower limbs]

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neurosonography
• Anatomy

Background:

• Peripheral nerves exhibit distinct fibrillary, ribboned (longitudinal), and ovoid (cross-section) structures on sonography.
• Nerves are typically found between muscle groups, alongside blood vessels, or within anatomical canals.
• Advances in ultrasound technology enable comprehensive peripheral nerve investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the normal and pathological echoanatomy of lower limb peripheral nerves.
• To serve as an educational resource for sonographers and clinicians.
• To complement previous work on upper limb peripheral nerve sonography.

Main Methods:

• Review of sonographic images of peripheral nerves in the lower limbs.
• Correlation of imaging findings with anatomical knowledge.
• Emphasis on the importance of sonographer technique and clinical correlation.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of normal peripheral nerve sonographic characteristics (longitudinal and cross-sectional).
• Identification of characteristic sonographic patterns for common peripheral nerve pathologies.
• Demonstration of the utility of ultrasound in evaluating the entire length of lower limb nerves.

Conclusions:

• Sonography is a valuable tool for assessing lower limb peripheral nerves.
• Accurate interpretation requires thorough anatomical knowledge and rigorous technique.
• This review provides essential information for diagnosing peripheral nerve conditions in the lower extremities.