Clinical Mapping of Sciatic Nerve Variations in the Gluteal Region of Koreans: Anatomical Evidence for Surgical and Interventional Safety

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We dissected formalin-fixed Korean cadavers, classified sciatic nerve–piriformis patterns by the Beaton–Anson system, and used a coccyx-based Cartesian framework to define the nerve’s exit (EXp) and cross (CRp) points while recording nerve width at EXp; sex- and side-related patterns and type-based trajectories were qualitatively compared. The typical pattern (Type A) predominated, whereas atypical patterns (Types B and C) showed a more lateral course of the common fibular component relative to the sciatic or tibial components, with overall distributions similar between sexes and sides; coordinate plots indicated that lateral displacement is characteristic of non-Type-A variants. These findings suggest that, in Koreans, non-Type-A variants may increase vulnerability during total hip procedures and gluteal injections, and the provided coordinate-based maps offer population-specific anatomical guidance to enhance surgical and interventional safety in the gluteal region. Health sciences/Anatomy Health sciences/Diseases Health sciences/Medical research sciatic nerve piriformis muscle anatomical variation gluteal region Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 1. Introduction The sciatic nerve (SN), recognized as the largest and thickest peripheral nerve in the human body, plays a crucial role in the sensory and motor functions of the lower limbs. Originating from the lumbosacral plexus and typically comprising fibers from spinal nerves L4 through S3, it extends posteriorly through the pelvic region to innervate the lower extremities. Due to its substantial role in lower limb functionality, a thorough understanding of the sciatic nerve’s anatomy and variations is critical for clinical practice, particularly in surgical interventions, anesthesia administration, pain management strategies, and rehabilitation therapies. The clinical significance of the sciatic nerve arises primarily from its susceptibility to injury under diverse pathological circumstances, including lumbar disc herniation, direct trauma, neoplasms, and complications related to surgical procedures. Such injuries frequently result in disability, functional impairment, or chronic neuropathic pain syndromes. Furthermore, the sciatic nerve is commonly implicated in medical conditions such as sciatica, piriformis syndrome, and various peripheral neuropathies, each requiring precise anatomical knowledge to facilitate accurate diagnoses and effective, targeted treatment strategies [1,2]. International studies have consistently reported numerous branching patterns of the sciatic nerve, prompting the development of several classification systems. Beaton and Anson [3] described six distinct types of anatomical relationships between the sciatic nerve and the piriformis muscle. Subsequent research further confirmed significant variability in morphology and branching [4–6]. This variability underscores the increased risk of iatrogenic injury during invasive procedures such as total hip arthroplasty, intramuscular injections, and other surgical interventions if deviations from typical anatomical patterns are not recognized. Despite extensive global research, systematic anatomical studies and classifications of the sciatic nerve have not been comprehensively conducted in the Korean population. A few cadaveric studies in Korea have examined sciatic nerve branching and its clinical implications, but large-scale, classification-based analyses remain limited. Considering that population-specific anatomical variations have been reported in other groups [7], detailed anatomical investigations focusing on the Korean population are critically needed. Therefore, the present study aims not only to review existing international classification frameworks but also to rigorously investigate and document the variability of sciatic nerve anatomy specifically within the Korean population. By establishing correlations between anatomical variations and their clinical implications, this research intends to provide valuable insights for both anatomical science and clinical practice. Ultimately, the study seeks to develop and propose a refined, comprehensive classification system tailored to the Korean population, thereby enhancing surgical planning, improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding preventive strategies, and enriching medical education. 2. Materials and Methods Cadaveric specimens were obtained through the official body donation program, with written informed consent obtained from the donors prior to death and from their legal next of kin after death, explicitly allowing educational and research use. According to Korean bioethics regulations, research involving deceased cadavers is exempt from Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Additionally, no personal identifying information of the deceased is included in this study. All procedures were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. A total of 102 gluteal regions were dissected from 51 Korean cadavers fixed in a 10% formalin mixture. Of the 102 gluteal regions dissected, 74 limbs (72%) were male and 28 limbs (28%) were female. The mean age of the donors at death was 79.6 ± 9.1 years and ranged from 50 to 99. The gluteal region of all cadavers was intact with no deformities, previous surgeries, or signs of trauma. Cadavers were dissected in the prone position in the following order: skin of the gluteal region, superficial fascia, and deep fascia. The origins of gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus were identified, and the muscles were cut and removed. Afterwards, structures deep in the gluteal region were exposed, and the landmark piriformis was identified. Finally, the sciatic nerve could be seen exiting the inferior border of the piriformis muscle (PM). Six types were classified according to the location and shape of the sciatic nerve exiting the pelvic cavity and arriving at the gluteal region, and the classification suggested by Beaton and Anson [3] was applied (Fig. 1 ): Type A: SN passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type B: Common fibular nerve (CFN) passes through the PM and tibial nerve (TN) passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type C: CFN passes above the superior border of the PM and TN passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type D: SN passes through PM. Type E: CFN passes above the superior border of the PM and TN passes through the PM. Type F: SN passes above the superior border of the PM. A reference line was set up to coordinate the position of the point where the SN exits into the gluteal region. The zero point is based on the tip of the coccyx, the Y axis is set on the mid-sagittal line, and the X axis is set on the transverse line perpendicular to the Y axis. The point at which the SN exits toward the gluteal region was named “Exit point, EXp” and the exit point was measured as an XY coordinate distance. The point where the SN crosses the X axis while traveling down is called a "Cross point, CRp" and the cross point is expressed as an X coordinate distance (Fig. 2 ). The width was measured at the EXp and when the CFN and TN were divided, each width was measured. The EXp XY coordinates, CRp X coordinates, and width were independently measured once each by two researchers, and were adopted as values describing the average of the measured values. All measured values used an electronic digital caliper (Sincon Corporation, Seoul, Korea) and were measured in units of 0.1 mm. Statistical Analysis Analysis of measurement data was performed using IBM SPSS statistics version 23.0 for Windows (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). The reliability between operators for all measured variables was analyzed as an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). When the p -value was less than 0.05, it was considered statistically significant. Fisher's exact test was used for frequency analysis of sex, body side, and ethnicity by classification of relationship types between SN and PM. The average comparison of sex and body side by EXp XY coordinates, CRp X coordinates, and width was analyzed by independent sample t-test. Average comparison by type of relationship between SN and PM by EXp XY coordinate, CRp X coordinate, and width was analyzed through Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Dunn's test was used for post hoc test. Scatter plots for EXp XY coordinates and CRp X coordinates for each type of SN were used, and trend lines for each type were presented. 3. Results Interclass correlation coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) were generated for all measurements. As a result, EXp X coordinate was 0.96, EXp Y coordinate was 0.97, CRp X coordinate was 0.98, and width was 0.94. All measurements showed reliability of excellent grade (0.81 or more) and were used in the study. The frequency distribution of sciatic nerve classification types according to sex is summarized in Table 1 . Among the 102 dissected gluteal regions, Type A was the most frequently observed, comprising 85 cases (83.3%), followed by Type B with 13 cases (12.7%) and Type C with 4 cases (3.9%). Of the 85 cases classified as Type A, 63 cases (74.1%) were male and 22 cases (25.9%) were female. Type B included 9 cases (69.2%) in males and 4 cases (30.8%) in females. Type C showed an equal distribution between males and females, with 2 cases each (50.0%). No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of sciatic nerve classification types between males and females ( p = 0.454). Table 1 Frequency analysis of sciatic nerve classification by sex. Type classification Male Female Total p Type A Count 63 22 85 .454 % within rows 74.1% 25.9% 100.0% % within columns 85.1% 78.6% 83.3% Type B Count 9 4 13 % within rows 69.2% 30.8% 100.0% % within columns 12.2% 14.3% 12.7% Type C Count 2 2 4 % within rows 50.0% 50.0% 100.0% % within columns 2.7% 7.1% 3.9% Total Count 74 28 102 % within rows 72.5% 27.5% 100.0% % within columns 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Although Type A was predominant in both sexes, slight variations were noted in the proportions of Types B and C; however, these variations did not reach statistical significance. Similarly, when analyzed according to body side, no statistically significant difference was observed between the right and left sides in Table 2 ( p = 0.324). Type A remained the most common classification type bilaterally, whereas Type B was somewhat more frequent on the left side, and Type C was evenly distributed between sides. Table 2 Frequency analysis of sciatic nerve classification by body side. Type classification Right Left Total p Type A Count 45 40 85 .324 % within rows 52.9% 47.1% 100.0% % within columns 88.2% 78.4% 83.3% Type B Count 4 9 13 % within rows 30.8% 69.2% 100.0% % within columns 7.8% 17.6% 12.7% Type C Count 2 2 4 % within rows 50.0% 50.0% 100.0% % within columns 3.9% 3.9% 3.9% Total Count 51 51 102 % within rows 50.0% 50.0% 100.0% % within columns 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% The means of the sciatic nerve measurement variables according to sex are presented in Table 3 . There was no difference in the EXp X coordinate between males (74.3 ± 7.16 mm) and females (72.8 ± 8.55 mm; p = 0.346). However, a significant difference was observed in the EXp Y coordinate, with males (41.2 ± 10.73 mm) having a higher mean value compared to females (35.3 ± 12.50 mm; p = 0.011). For the CRp X coordinate, no significant difference was found between males (92.2 ± 9.13 mm) and females (94.3 ± 9.15 mm; p = 0.258). Regarding the width of the sciatic nerve, a statistically significant difference was observed, with males (12.2 ± 3.73 mm) having a larger mean width than females (10.6 ± 3.39 mm; p = 0.039). When comparing measurement variables according to body side (right vs. left), no statistically significant differences were found for any variables. Table 3 Means comparison of sciatic nerve measurement variables by sex. Variable N mean SD p EXp X coordinate Male 85 74.3 7.16 .346 Female 34 72.8 8.55 EXpY coordinate Male 85 41.2 10.73 .011 * Female 34 35.3 12.50 CRp X coordinate Male 85 92.2 9.13 .258 Female 34 94.3 9.15 Width Male 85 12.2 3.73 .039 * Female 34 10.6 3.39 Exp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.001. Table 4 Means comparison of sciatic nerve measurement variables by body side. Variable N mean SD p EXp X coordinate Right 57 73.9 7.45 .902 Left 62 73.7 7.76 EXpY coordinate Right 57 40.9 10.39 .234 Left 62 38.3 12.45 CRp X coordinate Right 57 92.5 9.19 .769 Left 62 93.0 9.18 Width Right 57 12.1 3.53 .279 Left 62 11.3 3.83 Exp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.001. Mean values of measurement variables according to sciatic nerve classification types are presented in Table 5 . Significant differences were observed in the EXp X coordinate ( p = 0.001), with Type C showing significantly higher values compared to Types A and B. The CRp X coordinate also demonstrated significant differences ( p = 0.029), with subtype C-2 presenting significantly higher values than subtype B-1. Additionally, width of sciatic nerve exhibited significant variations among types ( p = 0.001), with Type A having significantly greater width compared to Types B and C. Table 5 Average comparison by sciatic nerve classification for measured variables. Type Mean SD Mean rank H P Pairwise comparison EXp X coordinate A a 72.6 7.00 55.14 19.140 .001 ** c > a, b B-1 b 71.7 7.08 49.50 B-2 c 82.5 5.99 97.92 C-1 d 77.0 7.75 71.25 C-2 e 75.5 8.70 63.00 Total 73.8 7.58 EXpY coordinate A a 38.6 9.59 57.14 7.692 .104 n/a B-1 b 35.7 12.55 54.46 B-2 c 44.5 13.91 76.77 C-1 d 37.5 12.48 52.13 C-2 e 58.0 20.85 92.13 Total 39.5 11.53 CRp X coordinate A a 91.9 8.27 56.72 10.828 .029 * e > b B-1 b 89.2 9.55 47.81 B-2 c 98.3 8.15 80.73 C-1 d 93.5 14.36 70.25 C-2 e 103.8 13.18 91.63 Total 92.8 9.15 Width A a 13.3 2.61 74.37 57.748 .001 ** a > b, d > c, e B-1 b 9.9 2.47 39.65 B-2 c 5.5 1.09 10.12 C-1 d 9.5 1.91 33.88 C-2 e 5.5 1.22 9.00 Total 11.7 3.69 H: Results from Kruskal-Wallis H test; Exp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.001. A scatter plot and trend lines illustrating the exit points (EXp) and cross points (CRp) of the sciatic nerve according to classification types in Fig. 3 . The plotted data points reveal distinct clustering patterns depending on the nerve's anatomical trajectory. Notably, Type B and Type C exhibit a more lateral course compared to Type A, indicating that these types tend to deviate laterally as they exit the pelvis and enter the gluteal region. The trend lines further support this observation, with Type B and Type C displaying greater X-axis values, confirming a more lateral positioning. This lateral deviation may have important clinical implications, particularly concerning nerve compression syndromes, surgical approaches, and injection procedures in the gluteal region. Discussion In this study, the prevalence of atypical morphologies such as B and C types accounted for 16.6% of the total. These anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve may significantly contribute to iatrogenic injury during total hip arthroplasty (THA), intramuscular injections in the gluteal region, and other invasive procedures. In particular, intramuscular injections in the gluteal region pose a high risk of nerve injury due to the close anatomical proximity between the sciatic nerve and the injection site, where improper injection techniques can increase the likelihood of nerve damage [8]. Nerve injury may result from direct trauma, intraneural injection, or ischemia caused by hematoma formation, leading to pain, sensory deficits, and motor dysfunction [8]. Therefore, a precise understanding of anatomical structures is essential for ensuring safe injection techniques, and appropriate education and guidelines are necessary in clinical practice. In this study, the trend lines for the primary nerve branches (Type A, B-1, C-1) and the secondary nerve branches (B-2, C-2) were differentiated, and the results confirmed that the secondary nerve branches (CFN) in Type B and C are located laterally to the primary nerve branches (SN or TN) and travel accordingly (Fig. 3 ). A review of previous literature has reported that sciatic nerve injury is the most common nerve injury associated with THA. Specifically, in atypical forms (types B and C) rather than the typical form (type A), the CFN is reported to be located closer to the THA surgical site as it exits and runs through the gluteal region. For this reason, CFN injury is reported to occur more frequently than tibial nerve (TN) injury [9,10]. This finding is consistent with the results of this study, where CFN in Type B and C, which belong to the modified forms, travels laterally toward the hip compared to TN. Furthermore, the results of this study support the notion that CFN is relatively more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury. A comparative analysis of sciatic nerve classification types across different ethnicities is presented in Table 6 . The frequency distribution of Type A varied among populations, with the highest prevalence observed in the French population (90.4%) and the lowest in the Japanese population (64.5%). The present study reported an 83.3% prevalence of Type A, which was comparable to the values reported in the USA (88.2%) and France (90.4%) but significantly higher than those observed in China (65.7%, p = 0.001) and Japan (64.5%, p = 0.001). Type B exhibited notable variability across populations. In this study, the prevalence of Type B was 12.7%, which was similar to findings in Turkey (14.3%) but higher than those reported in the USA (8.8%) and France (9.6%). However, the prevalence of Type B in this study was significantly lower than in the Chinese (32.9%) and Japanese (33.5%) populations ( p = 0.001 for both comparisons). Type C was observed at relatively low frequencies across all populations, ranging from 2.0% in Japan to 8.2% in Turkey. Type D was rarely reported, with only two cases (1.4%) identified in the Chinese population, while it was absent in all other populations. These findings highlight significant ethnic differences in the anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve, particularly in the prevalence of Types A and B. Such variations may have clinical implications in surgical and diagnostic procedures involving the sciatic nerve. Table 6 Frequency analysis between this study and other ethnicities by sciatic nerve classification. Type Current Study USA [11] France [12] Turkey [13] China [14] Japan [15] N (%) N (%) p N (%) p N (%) p N (%) p N (%) p A 85 (83.3) 90 (88.2) .653 94 (90.4) .093 38 (77.6) .576 92 (65.7) .001 ** 285 (64.5) .001 ** B 13 (12.7) 9 (8.8) 10 (9.6) 7 (14.3) 46 (32.9) 148 (33.5) C 4 (3.9) 3 (2.9) - 4 (8.2) - 9 (2.0) D - - - - 2 (1.4) - Total 102 (100.0) 102 (100.0) 104 (100.0) 49 (100.0) 140 (100.0) 442 (100.0) The data are expressed by number(percent). ** p < 0.001. Type A: SN below the inferior border of PM; Type B: CFN through PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; Type C: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; Type D: SN through PM; Type E: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN through PM; Type F: SN passes above the superior border of the PM. SN: Sciatic nerve; PM: Piriformis muscle; CFN: Common fibular nerve; TN: Tibial nerve. Nevertheless, several methodological considerations should be acknowledged when interpreting these findings. First, the sex distribution of the cadaveric samples was imbalanced, with males comprising 72% of the study population. Such a disproportion may have influenced sex-based comparisons and limits the generalizability of the results to both sexes equally. Second, although the gluteal region is inherently three-dimensional, the present analysis was performed on a two-dimensional coordinate plane. This approach may have introduced distortions when representing the true spatial relationships of the anatomical structures. Future research incorporating three-dimensional reconstruction techniques using CT or MRI would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the spatial configuration and improve the clinical applicability of these findings. Despite these limitations, the present study provides novel insights into the morphological variability of the sciatic nerve and its branches in the Korean population. By quantitatively analyzing atypical branching patterns and their spatial relationships, this work contributes valuable anatomical evidence that may help clinicians reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury during surgical and interventional procedures in the gluteal region. Declarations Compliance with ethical standards Funding: This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (No. RS-2023-00247109 and No. RS-2024-00463771). Data availability: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Author Contribution Conceptualization, J.H.L., S.J.J., K.R.P.; methodology, J.H.L.; formal analysis, J.H.L., K.R.P.; investigation, J.H.L., K.R.P.; data curation, J.H.L., H.J.J., E.S.P., K.R.P., original draft preparation, J.H.L., H.J.J., S.J.J., K.R.P., manuscript review and editing, J.H.L., H.J.J., S.J.J., K.R.P; visualization, J.H.L., E.S.P.; funding acquisition, S.J.J., K.R.P. Data Availability The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. References Benzon, H.T.; Katz, J.A.; Benzon, H.A.; Iqbal, M.S. 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[Perforation of dorsal branches of the sacral nerve plexus through the piriformis muscle and its relation to changes of segmental arrangements of the vertebral column and others]. Kaibogaku Zasshi 1994 , 69 , 281–305. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7698101","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":527743184,"identity":"3434bc0b-0285-45db-b4ae-a9e024b7fb37","order_by":0,"name":"Jae-Hwan Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kyungpook National University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jae-Hwan","middleName":"","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":527743185,"identity":"b508f9ac-000b-4698-9c84-ca0ebfc3d1a7","order_by":1,"name":"Hey-Jin Jang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"The Catholic 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02:26:41","extension":"xml","order_by":9,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":82828,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"a22f35bb3d984ff18eb2829b249c1a4e1structuring.xml","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/a8e7cb71ca112a21dcafe0c1.xml"},{"id":93541081,"identity":"5716c1e5-63ef-48d0-8cdc-e6dc4cf4c464","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 02:26:41","extension":"html","order_by":10,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":90564,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/cef90e11b6f033c56c71266a.html"},{"id":93541078,"identity":"a9a4d9ef-dd7d-4866-bb41-649f2734df76","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 02:26:40","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1323736,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSchematic classification of types based on the location and pattern of the sciatic nerve reaching the gluteal region. Type A: SN below the inferior border of PM; (B) Type B: CFN through PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; (C) Type C: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; (D) Type D: SN through PM; (E) Type E: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN through PM; (F) Type F: SN passes above the superior border of the PM. SN: Sciatic nerve; PM: Piriformis muscle; CFN: Common fibular nerve; TN: Tibial nerve.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/b1e472fb8698962a0d731bc8.png"},{"id":93541074,"identity":"b4997e5d-0470-40b2-8a03-e734e7264f18","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 02:26:40","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":678795,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eRepresentation of coordinate plane using landmarks and location of exit point and cross point. The reference point is set at the tip of the coccyx, with the Y-axis on the mid-sagittal line and the X-axis as a transverse line perpendicular to it. Exit point (EXp): The point where the sciatic nerve (SN) exits toward the gluteal region, measured as an XY coordinate distance; Cross point (CRp): The point where the SN crosses the X-axis while traveling downward, expressed as an X coordinate distance.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/319e1896a6c52ade0a54a2b5.png"},{"id":93541622,"identity":"4b842cf5-c8bf-48fd-be00-fc6bf2681e1f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-15 02:34:40","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":49891,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eScatter plot and trend line of exit point and cross point by SN classification. Type A: SN passes below the inferior border of PM; Type B-1: TN passes below the inferior border of PM; Type B-2: CFN passes through PM; Type C-1: TN passes below the inferior border of PM; Type C-2: CFN passes above the superior border of PM. SN: Sciatic nerve; PM: Piriformis muscle; CFN: Common fibular nerve; TN: Tibial nerve.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/c0ff63490ed714b365f0abf0.png"},{"id":94598009,"identity":"78f2ebb4-f02f-49fb-9feb-8ebc1d615501","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-28 18:50:44","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2516326,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7698101/v1/a9095b32-8944-4123-99b9-522cbe31af63.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Clinical Mapping of Sciatic Nerve Variations in the Gluteal Region of Koreans: Anatomical Evidence for Surgical and Interventional Safety","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe sciatic nerve (SN), recognized as the largest and thickest peripheral nerve in the human body, plays a crucial role in the sensory and motor functions of the lower limbs. Originating from the lumbosacral plexus and typically comprising fibers from spinal nerves L4 through S3, it extends posteriorly through the pelvic region to innervate the lower extremities. Due to its substantial role in lower limb functionality, a thorough understanding of the sciatic nerve\u0026rsquo;s anatomy and variations is critical for clinical practice, particularly in surgical interventions, anesthesia administration, pain management strategies, and rehabilitation therapies.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe clinical significance of the sciatic nerve arises primarily from its susceptibility to injury under diverse pathological circumstances, including lumbar disc herniation, direct trauma, neoplasms, and complications related to surgical procedures. Such injuries frequently result in disability, functional impairment, or chronic neuropathic pain syndromes. Furthermore, the sciatic nerve is commonly implicated in medical conditions such as sciatica, piriformis syndrome, and various peripheral neuropathies, each requiring precise anatomical knowledge to facilitate accurate diagnoses and effective, targeted treatment strategies [1,2].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInternational studies have consistently reported numerous branching patterns of the sciatic nerve, prompting the development of several classification systems. Beaton and Anson [3] described six distinct types of anatomical relationships between the sciatic nerve and the piriformis muscle. Subsequent research further confirmed significant variability in morphology and branching [4\u0026ndash;6]. This variability underscores the increased risk of iatrogenic injury during invasive procedures such as total hip arthroplasty, intramuscular injections, and other surgical interventions if deviations from typical anatomical patterns are not recognized.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite extensive global research, systematic anatomical studies and classifications of the sciatic nerve have not been comprehensively conducted in the Korean population. A few cadaveric studies in Korea have examined sciatic nerve branching and its clinical implications, but large-scale, classification-based analyses remain limited. Considering that population-specific anatomical variations have been reported in other groups [7], detailed anatomical investigations focusing on the Korean population are critically needed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTherefore, the present study aims not only to review existing international classification frameworks but also to rigorously investigate and document the variability of sciatic nerve anatomy specifically within the Korean population. By establishing correlations between anatomical variations and their clinical implications, this research intends to provide valuable insights for both anatomical science and clinical practice. Ultimately, the study seeks to develop and propose a refined, comprehensive classification system tailored to the Korean population, thereby enhancing surgical planning, improving diagnostic accuracy, guiding preventive strategies, and enriching medical education.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eCadaveric specimens were obtained through the official body donation program, with written informed consent obtained from the donors prior to death and from their legal next of kin after death, explicitly allowing educational and research use. According to Korean bioethics regulations, research involving deceased cadavers is exempt from Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Additionally, no personal identifying information of the deceased is included in this study. All procedures were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. A total of 102 gluteal regions were dissected from 51 Korean cadavers fixed in a 10% formalin mixture. Of the 102 gluteal regions dissected, 74 limbs (72%) were male and 28 limbs (28%) were female. The mean age of the donors at death was 79.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.1 years and ranged from 50 to 99. The gluteal region of all cadavers was intact with no deformities, previous surgeries, or signs of trauma. Cadavers were dissected in the prone position in the following order: skin of the gluteal region, superficial fascia, and deep fascia. The origins of gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus were identified, and the muscles were cut and removed. Afterwards, structures deep in the gluteal region were exposed, and the landmark piriformis was identified. Finally, the sciatic nerve could be seen exiting the inferior border of the piriformis muscle (PM).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSix types were classified according to the location and shape of the sciatic nerve exiting the pelvic cavity and arriving at the gluteal region, and the classification suggested by Beaton and Anson [3] was applied (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e): Type A: SN passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type B: Common fibular nerve (CFN) passes through the PM and tibial nerve (TN) passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type C: CFN passes above the superior border of the PM and TN passes below the inferior border of the PM. Type D: SN passes through PM. Type E: CFN passes above the superior border of the PM and TN passes through the PM. Type F: SN passes above the superior border of the PM. A reference line was set up to coordinate the position of the point where the SN exits into the gluteal region.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe zero point is based on the tip of the coccyx, the Y axis is set on the mid-sagittal line, and the X axis is set on the transverse line perpendicular to the Y axis. The point at which the SN exits toward the gluteal region was named \u0026ldquo;Exit point, EXp\u0026rdquo; and the exit point was measured as an XY coordinate distance. The point where the SN crosses the X axis while traveling down is called a \"Cross point, CRp\" and the cross point is expressed as an X coordinate distance (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The width was measured at the EXp and when the CFN and TN were divided, each width was measured. The EXp XY coordinates, CRp X coordinates, and width were independently measured once each by two researchers, and were adopted as values describing the average of the measured values. All measured values used an electronic digital caliper (Sincon Corporation, Seoul, Korea) and were measured in units of 0.1 mm.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStatistical Analysis\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of measurement data was performed using IBM SPSS statistics version 23.0 for Windows (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). The reliability between operators for all measured variables was analyzed as an interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). When the \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value was less than 0.05, it was considered statistically significant. Fisher's exact test was used for frequency analysis of sex, body side, and ethnicity by classification of relationship types between SN and PM. The average comparison of sex and body side by EXp XY coordinates, CRp X coordinates, and width was analyzed by independent sample t-test. Average comparison by type of relationship between SN and PM by EXp XY coordinate, CRp X coordinate, and width was analyzed through Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Dunn's test was used for post hoc test. Scatter plots for EXp XY coordinates and CRp X coordinates for each type of SN were used, and trend lines for each type were presented.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eInterclass correlation coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) were generated for all measurements. As a result, EXp X coordinate was 0.96, EXp Y coordinate was 0.97, CRp X coordinate was 0.98, and width was 0.94. All measurements showed reliability of excellent grade (0.81 or more) and were used in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe frequency distribution of sciatic nerve classification types according to sex is summarized in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. Among the 102 dissected gluteal regions, Type A was the most frequently observed, comprising 85 cases (83.3%), followed by Type B with 13 cases (12.7%) and Type C with 4 cases (3.9%). Of the 85 cases classified as Type A, 63 cases (74.1%) were male and 22 cases (25.9%) were female. Type B included 9 cases (69.2%) in males and 4 cases (30.8%) in females. Type C showed an equal distribution between males and females, with 2 cases each (50.0%). No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of sciatic nerve classification types between males and females (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.454).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency analysis of sciatic nerve classification by sex.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv 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align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.3%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e27.5%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough Type A was predominant in both sexes, slight variations were noted in the proportions of Types B and C; however, these variations did not reach statistical significance. Similarly, when analyzed according to body side, no statistically significant difference was observed between the right and left sides in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.324). Type A remained the most common classification type bilaterally, whereas Type B was somewhat more frequent on the left side, and Type C was evenly distributed between sides.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency analysis of sciatic nerve classification by body side.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType classification\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType A\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"8\" rowspan=\"9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.324\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47.1%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e78.4%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e83.3%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType B\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e30.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e69.2%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.8%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.6%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.7%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType C\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.9%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCount\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within rows\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e50.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e% within columns\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e100.0%\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe means of the sciatic nerve measurement variables according to sex are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. There was no difference in the EXp X coordinate between males (74.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.16 mm) and females (72.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.55 mm; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.346). However, a significant difference was observed in the EXp Y coordinate, with males (41.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.73 mm) having a higher mean value compared to females (35.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.50 mm; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.011). For the CRp X coordinate, no significant difference was found between males (92.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.13 mm) and females (94.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;9.15 mm; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.258). Regarding the width of the sciatic nerve, a statistically significant difference was observed, with males (12.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.73 mm) having a larger mean width than females (10.6\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3.39 mm; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039). When comparing measurement variables according to body side (right vs. left), no statistically significant differences were found for any variables.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeans comparison of sciatic nerve measurement variables by sex.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.346\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXpY coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e41.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.011\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCRp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.258\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidth\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.039\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, **\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMeans comparison of sciatic nerve measurement variables by body side.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003emean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.902\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.76\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXpY coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e40.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.234\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCRp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.769\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e93.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidth\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.53\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.279\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLeft\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, **\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean values of measurement variables according to sciatic nerve classification types are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. Significant differences were observed in the EXp X coordinate (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), with Type C showing significantly higher values compared to Types A and B. The CRp X coordinate also demonstrated significant differences (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.029), with subtype C-2 presenting significantly higher values than subtype B-1. Additionally, width of sciatic nerve exhibited significant variations among types (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), with Type A having significantly greater width compared to Types B and C.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAverage comparison by sciatic nerve classification for measured variables.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean rank\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eH\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePairwise comparison\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e72.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19.140\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.001\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"4\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ec\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;a, b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-1\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e71.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e82.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.99\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e97.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-1\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e71.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-2\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e75.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.70\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e63.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e73.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEXpY coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.692\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.104\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"4\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003en/a\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-1\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e54.46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e76.77\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-1\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e37.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e52.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-2\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e58.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.53\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCRp X coordinate\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e56.72\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.828\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"4\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.029\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"4\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\" rowspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ee\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;b\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-1\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e89.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e47.81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e98.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e80.73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-1\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e93.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e70.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-2\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e103.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.63\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"5\" rowspan=\"6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidth\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e74.37\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e57.748\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.001\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ea\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;b, d\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;c, e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"1\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-1\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e39.65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" morerows=\"3\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB-2\u003csup\u003ec\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-1\u003csup\u003ed\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.91\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.88\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC-2\u003csup\u003ee\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.69\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eH: Results from Kruskal-Wallis H test; Exp: Exit point; CRp: Cross point; SD, Standard deviation. *\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, **\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA scatter plot and trend lines illustrating the exit points (EXp) and cross points (CRp) of the sciatic nerve according to classification types in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. The plotted data points reveal distinct clustering patterns depending on the nerve's anatomical trajectory. Notably, Type B and Type C exhibit a more lateral course compared to Type A, indicating that these types tend to deviate laterally as they exit the pelvis and enter the gluteal region. The trend lines further support this observation, with Type B and Type C displaying greater X-axis values, confirming a more lateral positioning. This lateral deviation may have important clinical implications, particularly concerning nerve compression syndromes, surgical approaches, and injection procedures in the gluteal region.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the prevalence of atypical morphologies such as B and C types accounted for 16.6% of the total. These anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve may significantly contribute to iatrogenic injury during total hip arthroplasty (THA), intramuscular injections in the gluteal region, and other invasive procedures. In particular, intramuscular injections in the gluteal region pose a high risk of nerve injury due to the close anatomical proximity between the sciatic nerve and the injection site, where improper injection techniques can increase the likelihood of nerve damage [8]. Nerve injury may result from direct trauma, intraneural injection, or ischemia caused by hematoma formation, leading to pain, sensory deficits, and motor dysfunction [8]. Therefore, a precise understanding of anatomical structures is essential for ensuring safe injection techniques, and appropriate education and guidelines are necessary in clinical practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this study, the trend lines for the primary nerve branches (Type A, B-1, C-1) and the secondary nerve branches (B-2, C-2) were differentiated, and the results confirmed that the secondary nerve branches (CFN) in Type B and C are located laterally to the primary nerve branches (SN or TN) and travel accordingly (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). A review of previous literature has reported that sciatic nerve injury is the most common nerve injury associated with THA. Specifically, in atypical forms (types B and C) rather than the typical form (type A), the CFN is reported to be located closer to the THA surgical site as it exits and runs through the gluteal region. For this reason, CFN injury is reported to occur more frequently than tibial nerve (TN) injury [9,10]. This finding is consistent with the results of this study, where CFN in Type B and C, which belong to the modified forms, travels laterally toward the hip compared to TN. Furthermore, the results of this study support the notion that CFN is relatively more vulnerable to iatrogenic injury.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA comparative analysis of sciatic nerve classification types across different ethnicities is presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. The frequency distribution of Type A varied among populations, with the highest prevalence observed in the French population (90.4%) and the lowest in the Japanese population (64.5%). The present study reported an 83.3% prevalence of Type A, which was comparable to the values reported in the USA (88.2%) and France (90.4%) but significantly higher than those observed in China (65.7%, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001) and Japan (64.5%, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001). Type B exhibited notable variability across populations. In this study, the prevalence of Type B was 12.7%, which was similar to findings in Turkey (14.3%) but higher than those reported in the USA (8.8%) and France (9.6%). However, the prevalence of Type B in this study was significantly lower than in the Chinese (32.9%) and Japanese (33.5%) populations (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001 for both comparisons). Type C was observed at relatively low frequencies across all populations, ranging from 2.0% in Japan to 8.2% in Turkey. Type D was rarely reported, with only two cases (1.4%) identified in the Chinese population, while it was absent in all other populations. These findings highlight significant ethnic differences in the anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve, particularly in the prevalence of Types A and B. Such variations may have clinical implications in surgical and diagnostic procedures involving the sciatic nerve.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab6\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 6\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrequency analysis between this study and other ethnicities by sciatic nerve classification.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"12\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCurrent\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStudy\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eUSA [11]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrance [12]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTurkey [13]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChina [14]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eJapan [15]\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN (%)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eA\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(83.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(88.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.653\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(90.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.093\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e38\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(77.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.576\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e92\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(65.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.001\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e285\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(64.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\" morerows=\"3\" rowspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e.001\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eB\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(12.7)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(8.8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(9.6)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(14.3)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e46\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(32.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e148\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(33.5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eC\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(3.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(2.9)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(8.2)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(2.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(1.4)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTotal\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e104\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e140\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e442\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e(100.0)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data are expressed by number(percent). **\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001. Type A: SN below the inferior border of PM; Type B: CFN through PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; Type C: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN below the inferior border of PM; Type D: SN through PM; Type E: CFN above the superior border of PM, TN through PM; Type F: SN passes above the superior border of the PM. SN: Sciatic nerve; PM: Piriformis muscle; CFN: Common fibular nerve; TN: Tibial nerve.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNevertheless, several methodological considerations should be acknowledged when interpreting these findings. First, the sex distribution of the cadaveric samples was imbalanced, with males comprising 72% of the study population. Such a disproportion may have influenced sex-based comparisons and limits the generalizability of the results to both sexes equally. Second, although the gluteal region is inherently three-dimensional, the present analysis was performed on a two-dimensional coordinate plane. This approach may have introduced distortions when representing the true spatial relationships of the anatomical structures. Future research incorporating three-dimensional reconstruction techniques using CT or MRI would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the spatial configuration and improve the clinical applicability of these findings.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDespite these limitations, the present study provides novel insights into the morphological variability of the sciatic nerve and its branches in the Korean population. By quantitatively analyzing atypical branching patterns and their spatial relationships, this work contributes valuable anatomical evidence that may help clinicians reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury during surgical and interventional procedures in the gluteal region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCompliance with ethical standards\u003c/h2\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFunding:\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (No. RS-2023-00247109 and No. RS-2024-00463771).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eData availability: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eConceptualization, J.H.L., S.J.J., K.R.P.; methodology, J.H.L.; formal analysis, J.H.L., K.R.P.; investigation, J.H.L., K.R.P.; data curation, J.H.L., H.J.J., E.S.P., K.R.P., original draft preparation, J.H.L., H.J.J., S.J.J., K.R.P., manuscript review and editing, J.H.L., H.J.J., S.J.J., K.R.P; visualization, J.H.L., E.S.P.; funding acquisition, S.J.J., K.R.P.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBenzon, H.T.; Katz, J.A.; Benzon, H.A.; Iqbal, M.S. Piriformis syndrome: anatomic considerations, a new injection technique, and a review of the literature. \u003cem\u003eAnesthesiology\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2003\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e98\u003c/em\u003e, 1442\u0026ndash;1448, doi:10.1097/00000542-200306000-00022.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProbst, D.; Stout, A.; Hunt, D. Piriformis Syndrome: A Narrative Review of the Anatomy, Diagnosis, and Treatment. \u003cem\u003ePM R\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2019\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e11 Suppl 1\u003c/em\u003e, S54-S63, doi:10.1002/pmrj.12189.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeaton, L.E.; Anson, B.J. The relation of the sciatic nerve and of its subdivisions to the piriformis muscle. \u003cem\u003eThe anatomical record\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e1937\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e70\u003c/em\u003e, 1\u0026ndash;5.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePoutoglidou, F.; Piagkou, M.; Totlis, T.; Tzika, M.; Natsis, K. Sciatic Nerve Variants and the Piriformis Muscle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. \u003cem\u003eCureus\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2020\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e12\u003c/em\u003e, e11531, doi:10.7759/cureus.11531.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOlewnik, L.; Zielinska, N.; Ruzik, K.; Podgorski, M.; Koptas, K.; Karauda, P.; Balcerzak, A.; Gonera, B.; Tubbs, R.S. 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Disord.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2025\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e26\u003c/em\u003e, 422.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYUN, S.-I.; Park, J.; KO, Y.-D.; Song, D.-H.; Park, J. Sciatic neuropathy after intramuscular injection at a site remote from the nerve. \u003cem\u003eClinical Pain\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2021\u003c/b\u003e, 43\u0026ndash;48.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePark, J.H.; Restrepo, C.; Norton, R.; Mandel, S.; Sharkey, P.F.; Parvizi, J. Common peroneal nerve palsy following total knee arthroplasty: prognostic factors and course of recovery. \u003cem\u003eJ Arthroplasty\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2013\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e28\u003c/em\u003e, 1538\u0026ndash;1542, doi:10.1016/j.arth.2013.02.025.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHasija, R.; Kelly, J.J.; Shah, N.V.; Newman, J.M.; Chan, J.J.; Robinson, J.; Maheshwari, A.V. Nerve injuries associated with total hip arthroplasty. \u003cem\u003eJ Clin Orthop Trauma\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2018\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e9\u003c/em\u003e, 81\u0026ndash;86, doi:10.1016/j.jcot.2017.10.011.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLewis, S.; Jurak, J.; Lee, C.; Lewis, R.; Gest, T. Anatomical variations of the sciatic nerve, in relation to the piriformis muscle. \u003cem\u003eTranslational Research in Anatomy\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e2016\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e5\u003c/em\u003e, 15\u0026ndash;19, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2016.11.001.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDelabie, A.; Peltier, J.; Havet, E.; Page, C.; Foulon, P.; Le Gars, D. 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Relation of the sciatic nerve to the piriformis muscle in the Chinese. \u003cem\u003eActa Anatomica Sinica\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e1954\u003c/b\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChiba, S.; Ishibashi, Y.; Kasai, T. [Perforation of dorsal branches of the sacral nerve plexus through the piriformis muscle and its relation to changes of segmental arrangements of the vertebral column and others]. \u003cem\u003eKaibogaku Zasshi\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003e1994\u003c/b\u003e, \u003cem\u003e69\u003c/em\u003e, 281\u0026ndash;305.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"sciatic nerve, piriformis muscle, anatomical variation, gluteal region","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7698101/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7698101/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe sciatic nerve\u0026ndash;piriformis relationship varies considerably and can affect the safety of surgery, regional anesthesia, and injections in the gluteal region, yet Korean population\u0026ndash;specific mapping remains limited. We dissected formalin-fixed Korean cadavers, classified sciatic nerve\u0026ndash;piriformis patterns by the Beaton\u0026ndash;Anson system, and used a coccyx-based Cartesian framework to define the nerve\u0026rsquo;s exit (EXp) and cross (CRp) points while recording nerve width at EXp; sex- and side-related patterns and type-based trajectories were qualitatively compared. The typical pattern (Type A) predominated, whereas atypical patterns (Types B and C) showed a more lateral course of the common fibular component relative to the sciatic or tibial components, with overall distributions similar between sexes and sides; coordinate plots indicated that lateral displacement is characteristic of non-Type-A variants. These findings suggest that, in Koreans, non-Type-A variants may increase vulnerability during total hip procedures and gluteal injections, and the provided coordinate-based maps offer population-specific anatomical guidance to enhance surgical and interventional safety in the gluteal region.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Clinical Mapping of Sciatic Nerve Variations in the Gluteal Region of Koreans: Anatomical Evidence for Surgical and Interventional Safety","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-10-15 02:26:36","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7698101/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"84d15648-b74c-45b7-9df2-d60f4aca4ccc","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 15th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":56099616,"name":"Health sciences/Anatomy"},{"id":56099617,"name":"Health sciences/Diseases"},{"id":56099618,"name":"Health sciences/Medical research"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-28T18:15:53+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-10-15 02:26:36","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7698101","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7698101","identity":"rs-7698101","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}