Study of the anatomy of the tibial nerve and its branches in the distal medial leg.
OBJECTIVE
Determine, through dissection in fresh cadavers, the topographic anatomy of the tibial nerve and its branches at the ankle, in relation to the tarsal tunnel.


METHODS
Bilateral dissections were performed on 26 fresh cadavers and the locations of the tibial nerve bifurcation and its branches were measured in millimeters. For the calcaneal branches, the amount and their respective nerves of origin were also analyzed.


RESULTS
The tibial nerve bifurcation occurred under the tunnel in 88% of the cases and proximally in 12%. As for the calcaneal branches, the medial presented with one (58%), two (34%) and three (8%) branches, with the most common source occurring in the tibial nerve (90%) and the lower with a single branch per leg and lateral plantar nerve as the most common origin (70%). Level of Evidence, V Expert opinion .
Doctor of Science at the School of Medicine of Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Specialist and Full Member of SBCP and SBCM.
André Leal Gonçalves
AL
Torres
Full Professor of the School of Medicine of USP, in charge of the Plastic Surgery Discipline and Head of the Plastic Surgery Division of Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Marcus Castro
MC
Ferreira
Cadáver; Dissection; Peripheral nerves; Tarsal tunnel syndrome; Tibial nerve/anatomy & histology