title: Identification of the superficial peroneal nerve: Anatomical study with surgical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prevent iatrogenic damage to the superficial peroneal nerve during ankle arthroscopy, it needs to be identified. The purpose of the present study was to determine which clinical test identified the superficial peroneal nerve most frequently and which determinants negatively affected the identification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 198 ankles (99 volunteers) were examined for identification of the superficial peroneal nerve. Race, gender, body mass index (BMI), shoe size and frequency of physical activity were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The best method to identify the superficial peroneal nerve was the maximal combined ankle plantar flexion and inversion test. In this position, the nerve was identified in 57% of the ankles by palpation. BMI was the only independently influential factor in the identification of the superficial peroneal nerve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since in nearly six out of the ten ankles the superficial peroneal nerve can be identified, it is advised to assess its anatomy prior to portal placement. A higher BMI negatively influences the identification of the superficial peroneal nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic study, Level III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.|Academic Center for Evidence based Sports medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.deleeuw@amc.nl.
authors.forename: Peter A J
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Arthroscopic and Surgical Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics (Human Anatomy Unit), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.|Orthopedic Surgery Department, Medicine School, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golanó
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Leendert
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blankevoort
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, MC Slotervaart, Louwesweg 6, 1066 EC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Inger N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sierevelt
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Research Center Amsterdam, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Academic Center for Evidence based Sports medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Amsterdam Collaboration for Health and Safety in Sports (ACHSS), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C Niek
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: van Dijk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Anatomy; Ankle arthroscopy; Body mass index; Complications; Superficial peroneal nerve