title: Location of the sciatic nerve at the popliteal fossa in the adult population: Relationship with gender and anthropometric data studied. Implications for daily practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the location of the sciatic nerve (SN) at the popliteal fossa is related to anthropometric variables in the adult population, and to identify possible anatomical variations and their possible implications for clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study in elective ambulatory surgery patients. Patients were examined using ultrasound, looking at depth, laterality and distance at which the SN bifurcates at the level of the popliteal fossa. These measurements were linked to gender and the anthropometric data of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 62 patients were included, with 124 measurements. A statistically significant association was found between SN depth and the diameter of the thigh measured at 10 cm from the popliteal crease (P<.001). Mean depth: 3.32 ± 0.8 cm, mean laterality: 1.43 ± 0.9 cm, mean SN bifurcation distance: 61.78 ± 12 mm and mean SN diameter: 7.45 ± 1.17 mm. There were no statistical differences when comparing the measured variables with the age and gender. Similar results were obtained between measurements when comparing both lower limbs in the same patient. There was no statistical difference between height and distance at which the SN bifurcates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The depth and laterality of SN are independent of gender, weight and height. The depth at which the SN is located at the level of the popliteal fossa is related to the diameter of the thigh. The bifurcation of SN in popliteal fossa is not related to height.
authors.affiliation: Anestesiología, Asociación de Anesteria, Analgesia y Reanimación de Buenos Aires, Hospital J. M. Penna, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: leo_schiarite@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schiarite
authors.affiliation: Anestesiología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.affiliation: Anestesiología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Anestesiología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gilsanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Ambulatory surgery; Anatomical variations; Anestesia regional; Bloqueo nervioso; Cirugía ambulatoria; Nerve blockade; Nervio ciático poplíteo; Popliteal sciatic nerve; Regional anesthesia; Ultrasonografía; Ultrasound; Variaciones anatómicas