Objective
To present the branching patterns and anatomical course of the common fibular nerve (CFN) and its relationship with fibular head (FH).
Methods
A total of 21 limbs from 12 fresh cadavers were dissected. The FH width (FH_width), distance between the FH and CFN (FH_CFN), and thickness of the nerve were measured. The ratio of the FH_CFN to FH_width was calculated as follows: <1, cross type and ≥1, posterior type. Angle between the CFN and vertical line of the lower limb 5 cm proximal to the tip of the FH was measured. Branching patterns of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf (LCNC) were classified into four types according to its origin and direction as follows: type 1a, lateral margin of the CFN; type 1b, medial margin of the CFN; type 2, lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN); and type 3, CFN and LSCN.
Results
In the cross type (15 cases, 71.4%), the ratio of FH_CFN/FH_width was 0.83 and the angle was 13.0°. In the posterior type (6 cases, 28.6%), the ratio was 1.04 and the angle was 11.0°. In the branching patterns of LCNC, type 2 was the most common (10 cases), followed by types 1a and 1b (both, 5 cases).
Conclusion
Location of the CFN around the FH might be related to the development of its neuropathy, especially in the cross type of CFN. The LCNC showed various branching patterns and direction, which could be associated with difficulties of electrophysiologic testing.

Citations

• Axonal profiling of the common fibular nerve and its branches: Their functional composition and clinical implications
  Taeyeon Kim, Tae‐Hyeon Cho, Shin Hyung Kim, Hun‐Mu Yang
  Clinical Anatomy.2025; 38(7): 734.     CrossRef
• Intraneural Topography and Branching Patterns of the Common Peroneal Nerve: Studying the Feasibility of Distal Nerve Transfers
  Elliot L.H. Le, Taylor H. Allenby, Marlie Fisher, Ryan S. Constantine, Colin T. McNamara, Caleb Barnhill, Anne Engemann, Orlando Merced-O’Neill, Matthew L. Iorio
  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open.2024; 12(10): e6258.     CrossRef
• Fluoroscopically-guided therapeutic injection of the proximal tibiofibular joint in a patient with lateral knee pain
  Cooper Dean, Ivan Davis, David Alvarez
  Radiology Case Reports.2020; 15(12): 2510.     CrossRef

Ulnar neuropathy at the wrist is an uncommon disease and pure ulnar sensory neuropathy at the wrist is even rarer. It is difficult to diagnose pure ulnar sensory neuropathy at the wrist by conventional methods. We report a
case
of pure ulnar sensory neuropathy at the hypothenar area. The lesion was localized between 3 cm and 5 cm distal to pisiform using orthodromic inching test of ulnar sensory nerve to stimulate at three points around the hypothenar area. Ultrasonographic examination confirmed compression of superficial sensory branch of the ulnar nerve. Further, surgical exploration reconfirmed compression of the ulnar nerve. This case report demonstrates the utility of orthodromic ulnar sensory inching test.

Citations

• Neurological improvement following revision of vascular graft remnants in the upper extremity
  Marie Bigot, Sima Vazquez, Sateesh Babu, Suguru Ohira, Ramin Malekan, Igor Laskowski, Jared Pisapia
  Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases, Innovations and Techniques.2024; 10(4): 101539.     CrossRef
• Localization of Ulnar Neuropathy at the Wrist Using Motor and Sensory Ulnar Nerve Segmental Studies
  Ki Hoon Kim, Beom Suk Kim, Min Jae Kim, Dong Hwee Kim
  Journal of Clinical Neurology.2022; 18(1): 59.     CrossRef