Abstract
Anatomical variants of peripheral nerves of the lower limb are relatively frequent
and vulnerable to injury if not considered by the surgeon. Surgical procedures or
percutaneous injections are often performed without knowing the anatomical situation.
In a patient with normal anatomy, these procedures are mostly performed smoothly without
major nerve complications. But in the case of anatomical variants, surgery may be
challenging as “new” anatomical prerequisites complicate the procedure. In this context,
high-resolution ultrasonography as the first-line imaging modality to depict peripheral
nerves, has become a helpful adjunct in the preoperative setting. It is crucial, on
the one hand, to gain knowledge of anatomical nerve variants and, on the other hand,
to depict the anatomical situation preoperatively, to minimize the risk of surgical
trauma to a nerve and make surgeries safer.
Keywords
peripheral nerves - lower limb - anatomical variants - nerve injury
