Anatomic-histologic survey of the sural nerve: implications for inferior alveolar nerve grafting.

An anatomic and histologic study of the sural nerve was made as part of an effort to formulate a rationale governing selection of appropriate segments of the nerve as a donor graft for repair of the inferior alveolar nerve. Ten sural nerves were obtained by dissection at autopsy and their topography assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin stained transverse sections were prepared from samples taken at 32 locations along each nerve. Nerve diameter and shape, fascicle number, and fascicular arrangement were assessed at low power using light microscopy. It was concluded that technical objectives of graft repair can be better attained by selective sural nerve harvest.