[The anatomic study and clinical observation of the neurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle for calf reduction].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce a method to reduce the volume of medial gastrocnemius for calf reduction.


METHODS
Tibial nerve and nerve branches were dissected and explored at popliteal region for morphometry in 20 cadaver-legs. The length, width and the origination position of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius were measured and recorded. During surgery, the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle were explored and cut off. The circumference and the shape of the leg were measured and recorded.


RESULTS
The nerve innervating the medial gastrocnemius originates from the tibial nerve which lies in the fat tissue of popliteal space. In 8 cases (40%) there is only 1 branch to the medial gastrocnemius, and in 4 cases (30%) there are 2 branches. In other 4 cases (30%) the medial sural cutaneous nerve originate from the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius. The nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle branch off at (- 6.6 +/- 13.7) mm; the width is (2.3 +/- 0.4) mm; the length is (42 +/- 12) mm. Neurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius was performed in 16 cases. After operation, the circumference of the leg was reduced (3.5 +/- 1.1) cm averagely and the curve of the medial line of the calf was reduced. There is no obvious swelling in these cases and the patients were able to walk immediately after operation. The function of the leg was not obviously influenced.


CONCLUSIONS
Neurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle was a safe and effective method for calf reduction.
Liu
Da-Lie
DL
Department of Plastic Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, the South Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Li
X-Ijun
XI
Shan
Lei
L
Li
Qin
Q
Yuan
Ji-Long
JL
Yuan
Qiang
Q
D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult