Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Nov;44(11):1419-1425.
doi: 10.1007/s00276-022-03039-x. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Branching patterns of the superficial fibular nerve: an anatomical study with meta-analysis

Alisson Guilherme da Silva Correia  1   2 , João Gustavo Santos Vieira  3 , Beatriz Cristina Machado Rodrigues  3 , Luís Henrique Santos Fortes  4 , Diogo Costa Garção  4   5
Affiliations
Review

Branching patterns of the superficial fibular nerve: an anatomical study with meta-analysis

Alisson Guilherme da Silva Correia et al. Surg Radiol Anat. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: To review variations regarding the branching patterns of the superficial fibular nerve (SFN) concerning the deep fascia of leg and to the ankle joint level.

Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Lilacs, and Web of Science databases on October 14th, 2021. We followed the PRISMA guidelines to report this review. Articles with data on SFN variations prevalence were included. The data were extracted and pooled into a meta-analysis. We also dissected 60 formalin-fixed Brazilian fetuses (n = 120 lower limbs).

Results: Twenty-five studies (n = 1272 lower limbs) comprised this review. Concerning the SFN branching at the deep fascia, Type 1 variation (in which the SFN pierces the fascia as a single nerve trunk) had a pooled prevalence of 86.4% (95% CI 84.5-88.2), while Type 2 had a pooled prevalence of 13.6% (95% CI 11.8-15.5). At the ankle joint level, Type 2 variation (in which the SFN branches off below the joint level) was the most common anatomical pattern, with a pooled prevalence of 78.7% (95% CI 74.5-82.7).

Conclusion: Typically, the SFN branches off between its exit from the deep fascia and the ankle joint level. The SFN variations have great importance for surgeries, such as arthroscopies and fascia release surgeries, regional anesthesia, and clinical evaluation of SFN entrapment syndrome.

Keywords: Anatomic variation; Anatomy; Meta-analysis; Superficial fibular nerve.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adkison DP, Bosse MJ, Gaccione DR, Gabriel KR (1991) Anatomical variations in the course of the superficial peroneal nerve. J Bone Jt Surg 73:112–114 - DOI
    1. Agthong S, Huanmanop T, Sasivongsbhakdi T, Ruenkhwan K, Piyawacharapun A, Chentanez V (2008) Anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve related to the harvesting for nerve graft. Surg Radiol Anat 30:145–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-007-0296-z - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ahn JH, Park D, Park YT, Park J, Kim YC (2019) What should we be careful of ankle arthroscopy? J Orthop Surg 27:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/2309499019862502 - DOI
    1. Barendregt JJ, Doi SA, Lee YY, Norman RE, Vos T (2013) Meta-analysis of prevalence. J Epidemiol Community Health 67:974–978. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2013-203104 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Blair JM, Botte MJ (1994) Surgical anatomy of the superficial peroneal nerve in the ankle and foot. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1:229–238

LinkOut - more resources