High Division of Sciatic Nerve: A Cadaveric Study

Introduction: Several authors give significant numbers of reports regarding anatomical variation of high division of sciatic nerve. This variation (high division of sciatic nerve) may result in sciatica, nerve injury during deep intramuscular injections in gluteal region, piriformis syndrome, failed sciatic nerve block in anaesthesia and so on. Aim: The present study describes the incidence of high division of sciatic nerve and its types among the cadavers preserved for dissection for a graduate teaching program. Materials and Methods: During the routine cadaveric dissection for a graduate teaching program, observation of 60 gluteal regions in the 30 formalin-fixed adult cadavers was done in relation to Sciatic nerve. Division of sciatic nerve, its site and types were noted. Results: Variations in sciatic nerve division were found in five cadavers (16.67%) of which three were male and two were female. In one cadaver (3.33%), the common peroneal nerve passed above the piriformis and the tibial nerve below the piriformis. The tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve were seen to leave the pelvis below the undivided piriformis separately in different sheath in four cadavers (13.33%) with high division of sciatic nerve. Conclusion: Variations in the division of sciatic nerve are frequent and the knowledge regarding the same may be of use for surgeons so that they can take due care during related intervention and prevent complications.