In a tibial nerve injury at the ankle (tarsal tunnel syndrome), the characteristic sensory loss is in the:

• A Dorsum of the foot and toes
• B Lateral aspect of the foot and little toe
• C First dorsal web space
• D Sole of the foot and plantar surface of the toes ✓

Explanation

The tibial nerve passes through the tarsal tunnel posterior to the medial malleolus and divides into the medial and lateral plantar nerves — supplying the entire sole of the foot and plantar surfaces of all toes (medial plantar: medial 3.5 digits; lateral plantar: lateral 1.5 digits). Tarsal tunnel syndrome causes burning pain and paresthesia in the sole and toes, worsened by activity and relieved by rest. The dorsum of the foot is supplied by the deep peroneal nerve (first dorsal web space) and superficial peroneal nerve. The lateral foot is the territory of the sural nerve.

Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.