Variations of the superficial peroneal nerve and its terminal branches in the Turkish newborn fetuses.

AIM: The topography of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) and its terminal branches were studied, with the aim of providing further anatomical details for leg and foot in the Turkish newborn fetuses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Limbs from twenty newborn cadavers were dissected. The course of the SPN on the leg and its terminal branches on the foot were investigated.

RESULTS: The SPN was lateral (75%), anterior (15%), or branched in both areas (10%) of the cases. The SPN in the dorsum of the feet branched further into medial dorsal cutaneous nerve (MDCn) and intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve (IDCn). In 82.5% of the cases the MDCn and the IDCn split into three and two branches, respectively. In 10% of the cases, the MDCn gave off three, and the IDCn one terminal branches. In 7.5% of the cases, the MDCn had three while the IDCn had two branches that communicated with the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve.

CONCLUSION: The course of SPN on the anterolateral surface of the leg and its terminal branches on the dorsal surface of the foot were quite different. This unusual variant location will enable the surgeon to find and preserve the SPN and its terminal branches.