Study of sural nerve complex in human cadavers

Aim. The sural nerve complex (SNC) consists of four named components: medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN), lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN), peroneal communicating nerve (PCN), and sural nerve (SN). The formation and distribution of the sural nerve vary in different individuals. SN is universally recognized by surgeons as a site for harvesting an autologous nerve graft. The nerve is widely used for electrophysiological studies. Hence the study of sural nerve complex was taken up. Method. SNC was observed by dissecting 100 lower limbs in the department of anatomy at three different medical colleges, over a period of 10 years. Result. Typical SN was observed in 60% of the cases. MSCN was present in all the cases; in 15% of the cases the MSCN followed an intramural course. LSCN was present in 80% of the cases. PCN was present in 70% of the cases and in most of the cases calibre was larger than that of MSCN. Conclusion. The knowledge about the variation in the origin and course of the SN is important in evaluating sensory axonal loss in distal axonal neuropathies and should be borne in mind by clinicians and surgeons.