The dorsal digital nerves of the foot arise primarily from the superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve, which divides into medial and intermediate dorsal cutaneous branches that supply most of the dorsal toes. The great toe medial side and the second toe lateral side are supplied by the deep fibular nerve. The fifth toe lateral aspect and the fourth web space are supplied by the sural nerve. These nerves supply the dorsal skin and nail beds of the toes.
| Origin | Superficial fibular nerve, with the deep fibular nerve and sural nerve contributing |
|---|---|
| Course | The medial and intermediate dorsal cutaneous nerves of the superficial fibular nerve run over the dorsum of the foot and divide into dorsal digital branches along the toes |
| Sensory |
|
Dorsal digital nerve injury most commonly follows hallux valgus surgery, where the dorsomedial cutaneous nerve of the great toe is at risk from incision placement and retraction, causing numbness or a painful neuroma. Dorsal incisions for first MTP arthrodesis or arthroplasty and for lesser toe (hammer or claw toe) correction can also injure these branches. The deep fibular nerve branch to the first web space can be compressed in the anterior tarsal tunnel, producing first web space numbness. Ring blocks for toe surgery, given at the base of the toe or metatarsal heads, must cover both the dorsal and plantar digital nerves.
The medial dorsal cutaneous nerve branch to the great toe is inadvertently cut or stretched during medial longitudinal incisions for hallux valgus correction, producing permanent dorsomedial toe numbness and occasionally a painful neuroma at the scar.
Compression of the deep fibular nerve at the ankle retinaculum or on the dorsal foot from tight footwear produces numbness and tingling in the first web space, diagnosed by Tinel sign over the nerve on the dorsal foot and confirmed by nerve conduction studies.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
