A safe corridor using palpable anatomical landmarks to avoid injury to common peroneal nerve – A South Indian cadaveric study

Abstract

Background: Surgeries involving the proximal third of the fibula are associated with the risk of common peroneal nerve (CPN) injury. Hence, a safe corridor using palpable anatomical landmarks is necessary to avoid injury to the CPN. Methodology: Sixty lower limbs (30 fresh cadavers) were in our study group. The distance between the Gerdy's tubercle (GT) and the CPN behind the fibular head (FH), distance from GT to the superficial branch of the CPN (superficial peroneal nerve [SPN]), and distance from GT to the anterior recurrent branch of the CPN (anterior tibial recurrent nerve [ATRN]) were measured, and a safe zone to avoid CPN injury was identified. Results: The distance between the GT and the CPN behind the FH was 45.52 ± 2.4 mm, distance from GT to the origin of the SPN was 46.44 ± 2.4 mm, and distance from GT to the ATRN was 45.59 ± 2.9 mm. Conclusion: The safe corridor to avoid CPN injury is identified by an arc trajectory with a radius of 45.85 mm with the GT as the center, which will be useful during surgical procedures to avoid injury to the CPN.

Keywords

• common peroneal nerve
• gerdy's safe zone
• gerdy's tubercle