Ultraschall in der Medizin : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin, [der] Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin, [der] Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in Medizin und Biologie
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We studied the anatomy of the sciatic nerve and its division into the tibial and peroneal part using handheld ultrasound in adults. We wanted to evaluate the feasibility of ultrasound-guided identification of the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa and the correlation of the findings by ultrasound with patients' characteristics. ⋯ We could depict the sciatic nerve in all volunteers and its division in 53 of 74 (72%) volunteers. The position of nerve division showed large anatomic variation. A significant correlation between the width of the knee-joint line and the depth of the nerve division could be demonstrated. We conclude that handheld ultrasound is able to depict the sciatic nerves division. To block the nerve by one injection a more proximal access or visualization by mobile ultrasound is recommended. In addition the surrounding anatomic structures can be depicted as well.