During routine dissection, of the right lower limb of a 70 years old donated embalmed male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, K.J. Somaiya Medical College, Sion, Mumbai, India, we observed the low level division of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa. The gluteal region, back of thigh and leg of the lower limb was dissected meticulously to record the course of the tibial and common peroneal nerve. The further course of the tibial and common peroneal nerve was normal. The pattern of vessels in the lower limb were normal. The variation was unilateral and the left lower limb was normal. The photographs of the low level division of the sciatic nerve was taken for proper documentation. In sciatic nerve neuropathies, the extent of neurological deficits depends on the level of the sciatic nerve division. The sciatic nerve divided into the tibial and the common peroneal components at a lower level can result in the involvement of both the divisions in sciatic neuropathy. There is no failure of popliteal block anaesthesia in case of the low level division of the sciatic nerve.
Abstract