The influence of age on the anatomical variability of sciatic nerve divisions in the thigh: an ultrasound study

Purpose The Sciatic Nerve Division (SND) into the Common Peroneal Nerve and Tibial Nerve presents a great anatomical variability in its location in the thigh, but the influence of age on it has not been fully addressed. Methods Anatomical distances from greater trochanter to SND and from SND to popliteal crease were obtained by ultrasound examination in 60 children (age 1–12 years) and 60 adult patients (age 13–80 years) who were scheduled for programmed surgery. A sciatic nerve/thigh coefficient [Greater Trochanter-SND/(Greater Trochanter-popliteal crease)*100] and its coefficient of variation (standard deviation/mean*100) were calculated. Greater Trochanter-SND and SND-Popliteal crease were also correlated with patients´ age, weight and height. Results There were statistically significant differences between children and adult in Greater Trochanter-SND (20.5 ± 5,5 vs 33.9 ± 2.7; p