Study of sural nerve complex in human cadavers.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Neuroscience

Background:

• The sural nerve complex (SNC) comprises four distinct nerves: medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN), lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN), peroneal communicating nerve (PCN), and sural nerve (SN).
• The sural nerve (SN) is vital for nerve grafting and electrophysiological studies, yet its formation and distribution exhibit considerable individual variability.
• Variations in SNC anatomy necessitate detailed study for accurate clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anatomical variations in the formation and distribution of the sural nerve complex (SNC).
• To document the prevalence and characteristics of the medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN), lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN), and peroneal communicating nerve (PCN).

Main Methods:

• Dissection of 100 lower limbs across three medical college anatomy departments over a decade.
• Systematic observation and documentation of the sural nerve complex (SNC) components and their anatomical courses.

Main Results:

• A typical sural nerve (SN) configuration was observed in 60% of dissections.
• The medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN) was consistently present (100%), with 15% demonstrating an intramural course.
• The lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN) was present in 80%, and the peroneal communicating nerve (PCN) in 70% of cases, often with a larger caliber than the MSCN.

Conclusions:

• Significant anatomical variations exist within the sural nerve complex (SNC).
• Awareness of these variations is essential for clinicians and surgeons, particularly in evaluating sensory axonal loss in distal axonal neuropathies.
• Accurate anatomical knowledge of the sural nerve (SN) aids in surgical procedures and electrophysiological assessments.