Jc. Bos et al., THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE SUPERIOR GLUTEAL NERVE AND ANATOMICAL RADIOLOGIC BASES OF THE DIRECT LATERAL APPROACH TO THE HIP, Surgical and radiologic anatomy, 16(3), 1994, pp. 253-258
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery,"Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
In view of the increasing popularity of the direct lateral approach to
the hip joint for hemi- or total hip arthroplasty, the location of th
e superior gluteal nerve (SGN) was studied. This nerve is in danger wh
en using a transgluteal incision. In 20 embalmed specimens the relatio
n of the SGN to the tip of the greater trochanter (TT) was studied as
well as the relation to the iliac crest. For this purpose macroscopy,
microscopy and CT were used. In 13 hips a so-called most inferior bran
ch was found at an average of 1 cm distal to the inferior branch, the
main trunk of the nerve. There was substantial variation in the course
of both the inferior and the most inferior branch of the SGN. In orde
r to prevent nerve damage, proximal extension of the transgluteal inci
sion should be limited to 3 cm cranial to TT. Furthermore the incision
has to be confined to the distal one third of the distance TT-iliac c
rest. In tall people extra care should be taken.