A 55-year-old man undergoes great saphenous vein stripping for varicose veins. Postoperatively he reports numbness along the medial side of the leg and foot down to the medial arch. The injured nerve was damaged at which site?
- A Behind the medial malleolus
- B Deep to the superior extensor retinaculum
- C Within the adductor canal of the thigh ✓
- D Between the heads of gastrocnemius
Correct answer: C. Within the adductor canal of the thigh
Explanation
The saphenous nerve is the longest cutaneous branch of the femoral nerve. It runs with the femoral artery in the adductor canal, pierces the fascia beside the sartorius tendon near the medial knee, and supplies skin of the medial leg, ankle, and foot. It is closely applied to the great saphenous vein along the medial leg, so stripping or harvesting the vein commonly injures it. Behind the medial malleolus runs the tibial nerve, whose sole supply would also be lost.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.