Distribution patterns of the cutaneous nerves on the dorsum of the foot and their clinical significance

The aim of this study was to clarify the distribution patterns of the cutaneous nerves on the dorsum of the foot. This study investigated 130 feet of 77 cadavers. The distribution patterns of the sural (SN) and deep fibular nerves (DFN) were classified into five and four types, respectively. In Type A, the SN was only distributed to the lateral side of the fifth toe. In Type B, the nerve was distributed to the medial side of the fourth toe and both sides of the fifth toe. In Type C, the nerve was mainly distributed to the lateral side of the fifth toe. In Type D, the nerve was distributed to the lateral side of the third toe and both sides of the fourth and fifth toes. In Type E, no SN was found. In Type α, the DFN was simultaneously distributed to the lateral side of the first toe and the medial side of the second toe. In Type β, the nerve was distributed like in Type α and additionally to the medial side of the first toe. In Type γ, the nerve was distributed like in Type α and additionally to the lateral side of the second toe and the medial side of the third toe. In Type δ, no DFN was found. The results of this study will help physicians to reduce the incidence of iatrogenic nerve injury and improve the quality of diagnoses of relevant nerves in this body region. Clin. Anat. 33:592–597, 2020.