The deep peroneal nerve (DPN) and the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) originate from the common peroneal nerve supplying the skin on the distal part of the anterior surface of the leg and dorsal part of the foot. The injury to cutaneous nerves adjacent to the ankle and dorsum of the foot are common complications resulting from the various treatment and procedures including regional or local anesthesia for foot and ankle surgery, hallux valgus-rigidus correction, cheilectomy and forefoot surgery [1, 2]. The SPN provides two terminal branches; the intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerve (IDCN) and medial dorsal cutaneous nerve (MDCN) [3-5]. Numerous studies focus on the point that the SPN emerges through the anterior crucial intermuscular septum pathway as well as the branching pattern of these nerves [5-9]. The DPN provides the motor supply to the muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg [10]. Finally, the DPN divides into two terminal branches; the medial sensory branch to innervate the skin of the dorsum of the foot and the lateral motor branch to supply the motor innervation to the extensor digitorum brevis muscle [11, 12]. The sural nerve (SN) provides the lateral dorsal cutaneous nerve (LDCN) to supply the sensory innervation to the lateral side of the dorsum of the foot. Previous studies have been focusing on the different patterns of formation of the SN in different populations and reported the various type of anatomical patterns [7,13-16].

The understanding of the exact distribution and branching pattern of the nerves related to the clinical implications may help the surgeon avoid iatrogenic injury and decrease the complication from surgery. The present study aims to evaluate the distribution pattern of the superficial peroneal, deep peroneal and SNs in the dorsum of the foot. Additionally, the researchers classify the zone on the dorsum of the foot into five metatarsal zones (1–5 toes) related to surgical procedure and clinical implications for better define the specific location of these nerves.

A total of 54 lower legs of fresh frozen cadavers; 10 females and 17 males were obtained from the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. The mean age at death was between 20 to 80 years. No history of lower extremity injury, pathology and ankle deformity was reported. Ethical approval for the present study was obtained from the Ethics Committee from the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University. The branching pattern of the SPN, DPN and the SN was performed in the present study by dissection. The SPN nerve branches at the dorsum of foot were noted and classified following the branching patterns from I to VIII types based on previous studies [6-9]. The present study described the SPN, DPN, and SN branches via divided the dorsum of the foot into five zones related to the location of dorsal cutaneous nerves to the metatarsal bone and interdigital space. Sketches and photographs were made for data collection. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistical analysis. All statistical analysis tests were performed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A value of P<0.05 was significant.

The distribution and pattern of each cutaneous nerve identified in the present study and shown in Figs. 1–3.

The researchers focused on the different formation and distribution patterns of these nerves as related to the clinical approach to improves the knowledge of exact anatomical patterns, to decrease the iatrogenic nerve injury from the surgical procedures in this region. The present study aimed to investigate the morphological pattern of cutaneous nerve formation and distribution on the dorsum of the foot and to map for provide the specific data of the Northern Thai population.

The nerve development of the lower limb region begins at 9 mm of the embryonic period around four weeks, the limb bud is filled with the mesenchymal tissue and the nerves to limb bud arise from the lumbosacral plexus. The peroneal nerve extends over the dorsal aspect of the limb bud and divided into a superficial and deep branch [17].

The location and distribution patterns of the SPN, DPN, and SN on the dorsum of foot were highly variable in this study. Despite this variability, in 1926, Kosinski [8] who was the first to report the description of dorsal cutaneous nerve pattern and distributions and performed the study of 229 feet and classified into 12 theoretical types (K1–K12). Type K1 was the most frequently observed type (54.4%). In 2001, Solomon and colleagues [9] evaluated 11 patterns of dorsal cutaneous nerve distribution of the dorsum of the foot in 68 patients. Type K2 was most commonly found in their study. Ikiz and colleagues [7] in 2006 reported the seven types of the distribution pattern of the SPN on the dorsum of the foot. Type 1 was the most common in these studies similar to the K4 and K6 of Kosinski’s classification. Jeon and colleagues [16] in 2017 performed the study of the SN pattern following the previous research of Madhavi and colleagues’ [14] classification. Type 3 was the most common by observed type (24.10%) [16]. In 2019, Heo and colleagues [6] clarified the distribution of dorsal cutaneous nerves on the dorsum of the foot, reported the classification of nerve pattern of the sural and DPN into five and four types respectively. Type 2 was reported as the most frequent type in their study (38.50%). Nayak and colleagues [18] in 2019 investigated and classified the different patterns of nerve distribution on the dorsum of the foot. The distribution pattern of the cutaneous nerve of the dorsum of foot was categorized into four groups. Group, I was the most common type (45%), the DPN innervated the skin at the interdigital space between the first and second toes, the SN innervated the skin at the lateral part of the fifth toe and the SPN was innervated the remaining part of the dorsum of the foot. In the present study to establish the morphological pattern of the dorsal cutaneous nerves formation on the dorsum of the foot and to classify the distribution pattern of SPN, DPN, and SN into eight types, two types and five types respectively. Type SVI of SPN distribution pattern was the most frequently found in the present study: 13 limbs (25.00%). The normal distribution pattern of the SPN was shown in the Fig. 5. This type also known as the classic distribution pattern of SPN which was similar to Canovas and colleagues report that K1 type was the most common type in their study. The K1 type of Kosinski’s classification and type 7 of Ikiz’s classification which was similar to type SVI in the present study. There are overlap in description of different type reported in previous studies related to the specific population. Comparing the present study of the DPN classification of Heo and colleagues [6], the present study showed two types of DPN distribution in the Northern Thai population. Type D1 was the most common by found in the present study in 39 limbs (75.00%). In addition, type 3 was not found in the present study.

Recently, arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique and is the most commonly performed surgical procedure with minimal soft tissue damage, avoiding a neurovascular injury and decreased postoperative pain. There are two portal placements frequently used: dorsomedial and dorsolateral portals as to the extensor halluces longus tendon [19]. The dorsolateral and dorsomedial hallucal nerves, a nerve branches from the MDCN can be injured at the region of the first MTP joint. Vaseenon and Phisitkul [20] in 2010 reported the safe zones when performing the first metatarsophalangeal joint arthroscopy and suggested the medial and lateral to the extensor hallucis longus tendon for portal placements can avoid injury to the dorsolateral and dorsomedial hallucal nerves. Malagelada and colleagues [21] in 2019 reported that the complications in ankle arthroscopy can be decreased by the lectures on anatomical structures related to ankle arthroscopy during the cadaveric courses. Understanding the arthroscopic anatomy surrounding the arthroscopic portal sites is important for preventing neurovascular injuries. The limitation of the present study was the macroscopic cadaveric study of the cutaneous nerves related to surgical procedures. Further study with the microscopic study of the nerve is required to apply these data in clinical relevance.

In conclusion, the present study aimed to identify and investigate the nerves on the dorsum of the foot to provide the basic anatomical knowledge about the nerves on the ankle joint in the Northern Thai populations. The risk of iatrogenic nerve injury can be decreased by the knowledge of the exact anatomical pattern of the relevant structures. The result of the present study may raise awareness to surgeons regarding the anatomical variation and the location of the nerve and choose the appropriate treatment and surgical procedures for their patients.