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Obturator Nerve Variations: A Narrative Review.

Rouan Barakat1, Viktoria-Maria Karaflou2, Panagiotis Giavopoulos3

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece; Research and Education Institute in Biomedical Sciences, Piraeus, Greece. r1barakat@hotmail.com.

Acta Medica Academica
|February 5, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Obturator nerve variations are common, affecting its path, branching, and innervation of muscles, joints, and skin. Understanding these anatomical differences is vital for surgical safety and patient care.

Keywords:
Lower Limb InnervationLumbar Plexus VariationsPeripheral Nerve Variations

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Area of Science:

  • Anatomy
  • Surgical Anatomy
  • Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

  • The obturator nerve is a critical structure in the pelvis and thigh.
  • Anatomical variations of the obturator nerve can impact surgical procedures and disease outcomes.
  • Standard anatomical descriptions may not encompass the full spectrum of obturator nerve morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical significance of obturator nerve variations.
  • To document diverse anatomical pathways and branching patterns of the obturator nerve.
  • To highlight the importance of recognizing these variations in surgical and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of literature using the PubMed database.
  • Inclusion criteria focused on full-text availability, language, and topic relevance.
  • Exclusion criteria were applied to refine the selection of relevant studies, resulting in 11 included articles.

Main Results:

  • Significant variations in the obturator nerve's path, trajectory, and origin were observed.
  • Diverse division points and subsequent innervation patterns for muscles, joints, and skin were identified.
  • Variations in the muscles innervated by the anterior and posterior branches were noted.

Conclusions:

  • The obturator nerve exhibits a high degree of anatomical variability.
  • Awareness of these variations is essential for preventing iatrogenic injuries during surgery.
  • Detailed anatomical knowledge improves patient management and surgical outcomes.