Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2012, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 136-140.

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Anatomic relationship of abductor digiti minimi nerve and neurogenic painful heel syndrome

FENG Cheng-an, SUN Jun, LIU Zong-liang, FAN Wei, ZHANG Dong-kui, LU Di   

  1. Department of Anatomy, Kunming Medical college, Kunming 650500,China
  • Received:2011-09-12 Online:2012-03-25 Published:2012-04-17

Abstract:

Objective  To investigate anatomic relationship between abductor digiti minimi nerve(ADMN) and neurogenic painful heel syndrome (NPHS) for clinical diagnosis and therapy. Methods 32 fixed adult lower limb specimens were used in the study. The ADMN was dissected for observing it's origin, course, branches and distribution. Results For cases of 81.25%,  ADMN originated from the lateral plantar nerve, which consisted of 19 trunks (59.38%) located in the posterosuperior quadrant. The vertical depth of the origin site to the reference line was (10.81±0.96)mm and (10.24±1.10) mm at left and right sides respectively. ADMN firstly issued 1~3 periosteum branches, which arrived the periosteum of medial process of calcaneal tuberosity. The horizontal distances from the site of medial process of calcaneal tuberosity to the left or right tuberosities were (19.95±1.82) mm and (20.89±2.48)mm, seperately. Conclusions ADMN is probably stamped when it goes through the abductor hallucis, the medial head of quadratus plantae and the medial process of calcaneal tuberosity. The stamp or lesion of ADMN (especially periosteum branch) is probably related to the occurrence of the plantar fasciitis. The calcaneus spur doesn't always cause the NPHS.

Key words: Abductor digiti minimi nerve, Neurogenic painful heel syndrome, Applied anatomy

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