This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal My Folders Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ling, Z. X. Articles by Kumar, V. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ling, Z. X. Articles by Kumar, V. P.

The course of the inferior gluteal nerve in the posterior approach to the hip

¹ Singapore General Hospital, 1 Hospital Drive, 169608 Singapore.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, 119074 Singapore.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr V. P. Kumar; e-mail: doskumar{at}nus.edu.sg

We investigated the relationship of the inferior gluteal nerve to gluteus maximus by dissecting the muscle in 12 fresh-frozen and formalin-treated cadavers. The anatomy was recorded using still digital photography. The course of the inferior gluteal nerve was carefully traced and was noted to enter the deep surface of gluteus maximus approximately 5 cm from the tip of the greater trochanter of the femur. The susceptibility of the nerve to injury during a posterior approach to the hip may be explained by its close relationship to the deep surface of gluteus maximus. It is easily damaged before it has been seen if the muscle is split and parted more than 5 cm from the tip of the greater trochanter of the femur. We suggest that a modified posterior approach be used to expose the hip to avoid damage to this nerve.