Recurrent position and innervation pattern of recurrent peroneal nerve: A cadaveric study

Abstract

Background: The recurrent peroneal nerve (RPN) branches from the common peroneal nerve or the deep peroneal nerve and it innervates to the lower patellar region. It has recently been reported that damage to the RPN causes pain in the lower patellar region; therefore, this study examined the recurrent position and the innervation pattern of the RPN.

Methods: Cases of knee deformity or atrophy were excluded, and 50 legs (25 males and 25 females) of 34 cadavers (15 males and 19 females) were examined to assess the recurrent position and the innervation pattern of the RPN.

Results: The recurrent position of the RPN was 27.9 ± 3.6 mm from the tip of the fibula. The RPN innervated to the patellar tendon in five of the 50 legs (10%), to the infrapatellar fat pad in 13 legs (26%), and to both the patellar tendon and the infrapatellar fat pad in 20 legs (40%), and to neither the patellar tendon nor the infrapatellar fat pad in 12 legs (24%). No significant sex differences were observed in the recurrent position and the innervation pattern of the RPN.

Conclusions: In all cases, the recurrent position of the RPN was almost fixed from the tip of the fibula. The RPN frequently innervated to the patellar tendon or the infrapatellar fat pad (76%) in both males and females. These findings would be useful in knee surgery to preserve the RPN or for the diagnosis of pain in the lower patellar region.

Keywords: Anterior intermuscular septum; Common peroneal nerve; Deep peroneal nerve; Infrapatellar fat pad; Patellar tendon; Recurrent peroneal nerve.