European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

The sciatic nerve block is frequently used for anaesthesia or analgesia when performing procedures on the lower limb. The nerve can be blocked at any point along its course within the lower limb, provided there is sufficient ultrasound images to guide this procedure. Although the sciatic nerve has the largest cross-sectional diameter in the human body, its ultrasonography imaging can, however, not be easy to interpret. Imaging of the sciatic nerve can be challenging for a number of reasons. The sciatic nerve is constantly involved in the daily medical practices of anaesthesia, neurology, orthopaedics, and rehabilitative medicine. Materials and Methods: This is a Prospective, observational study and Conventional Routine dissection method carried out among 800 Embalmed human adult cadavers lower limb specimens. Adult lower limb specimens were obtained from the embalmed cadavers allotted for routine dissection to the first year MBBS students at the Department of Anatomy, Index Medical college. Both right and left lower limbs were used from all 300 cadavers. Therefore, every right lower limb has a corresponding left lower limb. Specimens where damage to piriformis or the sciatic nerve observed was excluded. Sciatic nerve was dissected as per the dissection steps given in Cunningham’s textbook of anatomy. The iliac crest was traced forwards upto the anterior superior iliac spine and backwards to the posterior superior iliac spine. Results: The minimum length of Sciatic nerve was 18.7 cm, the maximum length of Sciatic nerve was 22.5 cm and the mean length was 20.5 cm. The width of Sciatic nerve was measured using standard Vernier calipers, the results are given in millimetres. In the present study the maximum width just below the piriformis was 22 mm and the minimum width was 18 mm with an average of 20 mm. In the present study maximum width of Sciatic nerve between the greater trochanter and ischial tuberosity was 9.9 mm and the minimum width was observed to be 7.9 mm, and the average width was 8.9 mm. In the present study the mean distance between the lateral border of Sacro tuberous ligament and the medial margin of Sciatic nerve was measured and found to be 16.28 mm on the right side and 15.24 mm on the left side. Conclusion: Variations in the terminal division of Sciatic nerve at different level is challenging for the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in many clinical and surgical cases. Anatomical variations require knowledge in nerve grafting for the surgical procedures of the gluteal and popliteal region. Knowledge of the unusual trunk of Sciatic nerve in the present study enables the surgeons to find and preserve the nerve during, fasciotomy, neurolysis, neuroma resection, or bony or soft tissue reconstruction.