The Spatial Relationship and Surface Projection of Canine Sciatic Nerve and Sacrotuberous Ligament: A Perineal Hernia Repair Perspective

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 11; no. 3; p. e0152078
• Main Authors: Khatri-Chhetri, Nabin, Khatri-Chhetri, Rupak, Chung, Cheng-Shu, Chern, Rey-Shyong, Chien, Chi-Hsien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 22.03.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Cadaver; Cadavers; Canids; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Dogs; Entrapment; Health aspects; Hernia; Hernia repair; Hernias; Herniorrhaphy - methods; Ligaments, Articular - physiopathology; Ligaments, Articular - surgery; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nerve Compression Syndromes - physiopathology; Nerve Compression Syndromes - surgery; Paralysis; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Sciatic nerve; Sciatic Nerve - physiopathology; Sciatic Nerve - surgery; Veterinarians; Veterinary colleges; Missouri; United States > US; Taiwan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152078

Sciatic nerve entrapment can occur as post-operative complication of perineal hernia repair when sacrotuberous ligament is incorporated during hernia deficit closure. This results in sciatic sensory loss and paralysis of the hind leg. This study investigated the spatial relationship of sciatic nerve and sacrotuberous ligament and their surface topographic projection of 68 cadavers (29 Beagles and 39 Taiwanese mongrels) with various heights (25-56 cm). By gross dissection, the sacrotuberous ligament and sciatic nerve were exposed and their distance in between was measured along four parts (A, B, C, D) of sacrotuberous ligament. The present study revealed that the C was the section of sacrotuberous ligament where the sciatic nerve and the sacrotuberous ligament are closest to each other. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between C and height of the dogs. From the present study, we found that the C in smaller dogs has the shortest distance between the sciatic nerve and the sacrotuberous ligament, and thus the most vulnerable to sciatic nerve entrapment, and needs to be avoided or approached cautiously during perineal hernia repair.