Variation of nerve to flexor hallucis brevis.
BACKGROUND
Hallopeau's nerve is a branch of the lateral plantar nerve that supplies the flexor hallucis brevis muscle while also forming an anastomosis with the medial plantar nerve. In this study, the presence of this neural anastomosis was determined through dissection of cadaveric specimens.


METHODS
Twenty-six fresh-frozen adult feet (13 matched pairs) were dissected to assess the presence or absence of Hallopeau's nerve.


RESULTS
Dissections revealed four out of 26 specimens had this anastomosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms this anatomic variation.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical significance of these anastomoses remains unknown. These anastomoses are analogous to some in the hand and forearm.
Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 300 Pasteur Drive, Room R111, MC 5343, Stanford, CA 94305-5343, USA. lchou@stanford.edu
Loretta B
LB
Chou
Lisa E
LE
Choi
Tara
T
Ramachandra
Gene
G
Ma
D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*