Percutaneous Plating of the Distal Tibia and Fibula: Risk of Injury to the Saphenous and Superficial Peroneal Nerves

• DOI: 10.1097/bot.0b013e3181cb584f
• Publication Date: 2010-07-27T01:28:40Z
• Authors: Amer Mirza; Allison M Moriarty; Robert A Probe; Thomas J Ellis
• Keywords: Saphenous nerve; Superficial peroneal nerve; Peroneal Artery; Malleolus; Tibial nerve; Great saphenous vein; Sural nerve; Medial malleolus; Neurovascular bundle

Objectives: To assess the risk of injury to superficial peroneal nerve, saphenous and vein in percutaneous fixation distal fibula tibia. Methods: Ten adult cadaver lower extremities were instrumented with precontoured periarticular plates for tibia fibula. Plates inserted percutaneously along medial lateral Smooth wires into each screw hole. Dissection was performed their respective course. The position neurovascular structures relative smooth recorded. Results: nerve had a predictable course aspect ankle. Both injured every specimen. This occurred consistently at 2.0 4.7 cm from tip malleolus. demonstrated large variance exit point compartment crural fascia, exiting an average 11.6 Injury single specimen 11.5 this point. Conclusions: are during submuscular plating Careful dissection proximally distally can minimize damage these structures.