An anomalous variation in the innervation pattern of the peroneus longus muscle by deep peroneal nerve: a case report

Abstract

The muscles of the leg are partitioned into three compartments (anterior, lateral and posterior) which have separate innervations. The peroneus longus muscle is included in the lateral compartment and is innervated by the superficial peroneal nerve. We report an unusual finding in the innervation pattern of the peroneus longus muscle on the right side of a 65 year old female cadaver, in which the branches from the deep peroneal nerve were found to innervate the peroneus longus muscle. This finding is of academic interest and clinical significance to surgeons operating on the proximal fibula for nerve decompression, high tibial osteotomy and
nerve transfer operations.

Key words: Deep peroneal, common peroneal,
nerve, peroneus longus, variations.