title: Anatomical variations in formation of sural nerve in adult Indian cadavers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sural nerve is formed by communication of medial sural cutaneous nerve, that arise from tibial nerve in popliteal fossa and peroneal communicating nerve, a branch directly from common peroneal nerve or from lateral sural cutaneous nerve. The sural nerve is universally recognized by surgeons as a site for harvesting an autologous nerve graft and for nerve biopsies in case of neuropathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anatomy department and an observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mean, Standard Deviation, relevant percentages and p value was calculated by Chi-square test.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consists of 50 lower limb specimens in 25 cadavers. All the male and female complete cadavers were included in the study. The data was collected by dissection method by using dissection instruments and parameters (measurements) were obtained by using measuring tape.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sural nerve complex was dissected and observed in 50 formalin fixed lower limb specimens. Study was done in 16 male and 9 female cadavers. Three types of formation of sural nerve were observed were - Type A was seen in 36 specimens (72%) of cases. Type B was seen in 14 specimens (28%) of cases. Type C sural nerve was not found in present study. Site of union of components of SN was seen in the upper 3(rd) of leg in 5.6%, in middle 3(rd) it was in 33.3% and in lower 3(rd) it was in 58.3% of cases. The length of the sural nerve shows a wide range from 2 cm to 32 cm. The symmetrical distribution was seen in 62.5% in males and 55.6% in female.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The normal anatomy and variations may help to guide during surgeries in the region.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Sri Siddhartha Medical College , Tumkur, Karnataka-572107, India .
authors.forename: Kavyashree
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: A N
authors.forename: Lakshmi Prabha
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Subhash
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: K R
authors.forename: Bindu Rani
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: M K
keywords: Lateral sural cutaneous nerve; Medial sural cutaneous nerve; Peroneal communicating nerve; Sural nerve complex