The sural nerve & the calcaneus: A radiographic and anatomical study
Technical Physician | PhD Candidate Trauma & Radiology Department EM
I am happy to announce that another article is published in the Journal Foot and Ankle Surgery: "The sural nerve & the calcaneus: A radiographic and anatomical study" Minimally invasive fixation of calcaneus fractures using the sinus tarsi approach (STA) is widely used — but the risk to the sural nerve (SN) remains a concern. While previous studies have described the relationship between the STA and the SN, none have combined this with fluoroscopic imaging, bony landmarks, and the positioning of commonly used calcaneal plates.
In our anatomical study, we dissected 19 anatomical specimens and mapped the course of the SN in relation to:
- Bony landmarks visible on fluoroscopy
- STA incision location
- Commercially available anatomical calcaneal plates
Key finding:
The sural nerve consistently crosses the posterior part of the calcaneus, precisely where the tail of most plates is positioned. This means the SN is always at risk during STA-based plate fixation.
Intraoperative fluoroscopy may help visualize key landmarks and avoid nerve injury, improving both safety and surgical outcomes. Our findings also suggest that reconsidering the incision site may be necessary to better protect the nerve.
A huge thank you to all the co-authors for their hard work and dedication. Marisa Claassen Michiel Verhofstad Theo van Walsum Jacob J. Visser Mark Van Vledder and Hilco T.
Curious to know more? Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eqFk5nyk
This study brings attention to the evolving conversation around surgical site infection rates in office-based surgery. Emerging research underscores that with proper protocols, outpatient surgical settings can match the safety standards of hospitals.
As advocates for outpatient innovation, Surgzon supports safer, smarter surgical environments.
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