title: CLINICAL AND ANATOMICAL COMPARISON OF THE FIBULAR NERVE IN GERDY's SAFE ZONE.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clinically and anatomically compare the limits of the fibular nerve in Gerdy's safe zone in cadavers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty anatomical knee specimens were clinically measured (before dissection) to determine the distances and angles between Gerdy's tubercle and the posterior region of the fibula (cm); the angle between the line corresponding to the posterior region of the fibula and the tibial crest (degrees); and the angle between Gerdy's tubercle and the tibial crest (degrees). After dissection of the anatomical specimens, the knees were measured again, to determine the distances and angles between Gerdy's tubercle and the fibular nerve (cm); the angle between the fibular nerve, in the posterior region of the fibula, and the tibial crest (degrees); and the angle between Gerdy's tubercle and the tibial crest (degrees).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in the distance between Gerdy's tubercle and the posterior region of fibula (cm), after dissection: an average of 0.26 cm (p = 0.018), corresponding to 8.6% (p = 0.007). There was also a significant reduction in the angle between the posterior region of the fibula and the tibial crest after dissection: an average of 3° (p = 0.047), corresponding to 2.1% (p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the difference from before to after dissection, Gerdy's safe zone can be considered safe for orthopedic procedures involving the proximal region of the tibia, thereby avoiding damage to the fibular nerve and its branches.
authors.affiliation: PhD in Medicine from the Federal University of São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina; Head of the "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo" Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro José
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Labronici
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in Orthopedics and Traumatology at the "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo" Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Martins
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician in Orthopedics and Traumatology at the "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo" Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Barone
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, UFRJ, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Sergio
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Physician in the "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo" Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rolix
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: MSc in Anatomy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Titular Professor of Anatomy at the Petrópolis School of Medicine; Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Physician at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fonseca Passos
authors.affiliation: Physician responsible for the Trauma Group of Hospital de Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Barbosa
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Toledo Lourenço
authors.affiliation: PhD in Medicine; Adjunct Professor and Physician in the Sector for Traumatology of the Locomotor Apparatus, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Unifesp/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Jorge
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Alvachian Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Full Professor and Head of the Sector for Traumatology of the Locomotor Apparatus, Discipline of Traumatology, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Unifesp/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Baldy
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
keywords: Cadaver; Dissection; Fibular nerve; Tibia