European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Saphenous nerve is the largest cutaneous nerve in the lower limb. It
usually arises from the dorsal division of femoral nerve and innervates skin over
patellar ligament, tibial side of leg, medial side of foot and ball of great toe. Saphenous
nerve also responsible for mechanosensor functions in the knee joint. Evidence based
research reported that saphenous nerve is prone to injury during interventional
procedures. Knowledge about Aberrant saphenous nerve anatomy is essential for
clinicians to perform interventional procedures in patients without complications. So
the author of the present study aimed to explore the aberrant saphenous nerve anatomy
in cadaveric lower limb specimens.
Materials and Methods: In the present study 50 (27 Right side and 23 left side)
formalin-fixed embalmed cadaveric lower limb specimens were dissected in the
Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Pondicherry, from 2019 to
2021. The saphenous nerve origin, course and branches were observed in all the
specimens and any variations in the same were documented and analyzed.
Results: Out of 50 specimens, the saphenous nerve took origin from the anterior
division of the femoral nerve along with the intermediate and medial cutaneous nerve of
the thigh in 9 (18%) specimens. Aberrant course in the thigh was observed in 6 (12%)
specimens. No variations were observed in the branching pattern of the saphenous
nerve except Infrapatellar branch of saphenous nerve originated as 2 branches in 3
(6%) lower limb specimens in this study.
Conclusion: Variations in origin, course and branches of saphenous nerve observed in
the present study had left side supremacy. Clinicians should be aware of such variations
to perform procedures like femoral artery catheterization, saphenous nerve blockade
and knee surgeries without complications.