Common peroneal nerve entrapment with the communication between inferior gluteal nerve and common peroneal nerve

Abstract

Sciatic nerve divides into tibial nerve and common peroneal nerve at the level of superior angle of popliteal fossa and variations in its branching pattern are common. The most common nerve entrapment syndrome in the lower limbs is common peroneal nerve entrapment at fibular head. Invariably it can also be trapped in gluteal region due to split piriformis muscle which compresses sciatic nerve as whole or its division such as common peroneal nerve. In this case report, we describe a case of high division of sciatic nerve along with duplicated piriformis associated with a communicating branch between inferior gluteal nerve and common peroneal nerve. Such an anatomical variation of common peroneal nerve with the communicating nerve is discussed with its embryological basis.

Keywords: Common peroneal nerve, inferior gluteal nerve, nerve entrapment, piriformis, sciatic nerve