An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve
BackgroundSciatic nerve gives off branches that supply the back of the thigh, leg, and foot. Classically, this nerve emerges from the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle and subsequently divides into the common fibular and tibial nerves in the distal third of the posterior thigh. How...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1592879/full |
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| author | Rasyidah Rehir Rasyidah Rehir Jun Mun Teoh Sumar Chan Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Abeer Saleh Alshaya Abduelmenem Alashkham |
| author_facet | Rasyidah Rehir Rasyidah Rehir Jun Mun Teoh Sumar Chan Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Abeer Saleh Alshaya Abduelmenem Alashkham |
| author_sort | Rasyidah Rehir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSciatic nerve gives off branches that supply the back of the thigh, leg, and foot. Classically, this nerve emerges from the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle and subsequently divides into the common fibular and tibial nerves in the distal third of the posterior thigh. However, the course of the sciatic nerve varies among individuals, potentially resulting in nerve compressions. Understanding these variations helps prevent injuries during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This study examined the branching patterns of this nerve in the Scottish cadavers using the Beaton and Anson classification, which categorizes them into Type A–G.MethodsTwelve gluteal regions (4 males, 8 females) with a mean age of 87.3 years, were obtained from a Scottish University regulated by the Human Tissue (Scotland) 2006. The sciatic nerve and its branches were carefully dissected, and the relationship between the nerve and the piriformis muscle was observed and documented.ResultsOne left gluteal region of an 89-year-old female (n = 1, 8.3%) showed sciatic nerve variation. This variant exhibited early bifurcation, with the common fibular nerve piercing through the piriformis and the tibial nerve passing beneath it (referred to as Type B). The remaining 91.7% of cases, the sciatic nerve exhibited classical presentation (referred to as Type A).ConclusionThe Type B variation of the sciatic nerve is found in 8.3% of the elderly Scottish cadavers. While it is rare, it is crucial to acknowledge nerve variants to prevent injuries during posterior approach total hip arthroplasty or inadequate sciatic nerve blockade. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7acd0fd31ebf42b6810ecabf817512dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2295 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7acd0fd31ebf42b6810ecabf817512dd2025-08-20T03:31:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-07-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15928791592879An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerveRasyidah Rehir0Rasyidah Rehir1Jun Mun Teoh2Sumar Chan3Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour4Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour5Abeer Saleh Alshaya6Abduelmenem Alashkham7Department of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomDepartment of Anatomy, Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomBackgroundSciatic nerve gives off branches that supply the back of the thigh, leg, and foot. Classically, this nerve emerges from the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle and subsequently divides into the common fibular and tibial nerves in the distal third of the posterior thigh. However, the course of the sciatic nerve varies among individuals, potentially resulting in nerve compressions. Understanding these variations helps prevent injuries during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. This study examined the branching patterns of this nerve in the Scottish cadavers using the Beaton and Anson classification, which categorizes them into Type A–G.MethodsTwelve gluteal regions (4 males, 8 females) with a mean age of 87.3 years, were obtained from a Scottish University regulated by the Human Tissue (Scotland) 2006. The sciatic nerve and its branches were carefully dissected, and the relationship between the nerve and the piriformis muscle was observed and documented.ResultsOne left gluteal region of an 89-year-old female (n = 1, 8.3%) showed sciatic nerve variation. This variant exhibited early bifurcation, with the common fibular nerve piercing through the piriformis and the tibial nerve passing beneath it (referred to as Type B). The remaining 91.7% of cases, the sciatic nerve exhibited classical presentation (referred to as Type A).ConclusionThe Type B variation of the sciatic nerve is found in 8.3% of the elderly Scottish cadavers. While it is rare, it is crucial to acknowledge nerve variants to prevent injuries during posterior approach total hip arthroplasty or inadequate sciatic nerve blockade.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1592879/fullanatomyearly bifurcationpiriformissciatic nervevariant |
| spellingShingle | Rasyidah Rehir Rasyidah Rehir Jun Mun Teoh Sumar Chan Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Raghad Abdulaziz Almansour Abeer Saleh Alshaya Abduelmenem Alashkham An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve Frontiers in Neurology anatomy early bifurcation piriformis sciatic nerve variant |
| title | An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve |
| title_full | An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve |
| title_fullStr | An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve |
| title_full_unstemmed | An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve |
| title_short | An exploratory study of Type B variation of the sciatic nerve |
| title_sort | exploratory study of type b variation of the sciatic nerve |
| topic | anatomy early bifurcation piriformis sciatic nerve variant |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1592879/full |
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