• Manoj Kumar Karmakar, Ali Nima Shariat, Pawinee Pangthipampai, and Junping Chen.
• Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, SAR, China. karmakar@cuhk.edu.hk
• Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013 Sep 1;38(5):447-51.

Background And ObjectivesThe connective tissue layers that surround the sciatic nerve at the popliteal fossa are poorly defined. We present high-definition ultrasound images of the sciatic nerve, which were acquired during ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block (SNB), that clearly demonstrate these fascial layers.MethodsFour patients undergoing hallux valgus surgery received an ultrasound-guided popliteal SNB using a high-definition ultrasound system. In the ultrasound images, the paraneural sheath was identified as a hyperechoeic fascial layer between the outer surface of the sciatic nerve (epineurium) and the epimysium of the surrounding muscles. The paraneural sheath was distinct from the epineurium, better delineated after the local anesthetic injection, and enveloped not only the sciatic nerve but also the common peroneal and tibial nerves separately. In the postblock sonograms, the local anesthetic was compartmentalized into 2 broad areas, that is, external (subepimyseal) and internal (subparaneural) to the paraneural sheath. The popliteal SNB was effective for surgical anesthesia in all 4 patients.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the paraneural sheath and the fascial compartments, that is, the "subepimyseal perineural compartment" and the "subparaneural compartment" that surround the sciatic nerve and act as conduits for local anesthetic spread during a popliteal SNB.

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