Saphenous Nerve

What is the saphenous nerve?

Your saphenous nerve is a sensory nerve that lies deep within your leg. It’s part of your peripheral nervous system, which helps your brain interpret, or “feel,” stimuli from your body and the environment.

What is the function of the saphenous nerve?

Your saphenous nerve is a sensory nerve that carries information about what your leg is feeling from your body and the environment up to your spinal cord. It enables you to detect:

• Leg position.
• Pain.
• Temperature.
• Touch.

Where does it help me feel these things?

You have one saphenous nerve in each leg. Your saphenous nerve provides sensation to (innervates) your inner lower leg, including the:

• Inside of your ankle.
• Inner calf.
• Inside arch of your foot.
• Lower knee.

How does the saphenous nerve contribute to my well-being?

Healthcare providers may use your saphenous nerve to deliver pain medications (nerve block).

A saphenous nerve block may be necessary to:

• Halt pain in an emergency.
• Numb your lower leg for a procedure.
• Treat lingering pain.

What is the anatomy of the saphenous nerve?

Your saphenous nerve starts in an area of your upper inner thigh called the femoral triangle. It’s a hollow area that allows important veins and nerves to travel down your leg.

• As your saphenous nerve travels through the femoral triangle, it passes through structures in your inner thigh (adductor canal).
• Leaving the adductor canal, it divides into the sartorial and infrapatellar nerve branches.
• The infrapatellar branch provides sensation to the area below your kneecap.
• The sartorial branch continues past the knee.
• It divides again further down your leg, providing sensation to your lower leg, ankle and foot.

What else is important to know about the saphenous nerve?

In some areas, your saphenous nerve runs parallel to your saphenous vein. Part of this vein can be surgically transferred to the heart to restore blood flow in people who have coronary artery disease. This procedure is known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

What conditions affect the saphenous nerve?

The saphenous nerve’s location deep within your leg protects it, making injuries uncommon.

Conditions that can cause saphenous nerve pain include:

• Entrapment (pinched nerve), which occurs when there’s abnormal pressure on a nerve.
• Trauma, including deep cuts on your leg.

It’s possible to experience saphenous nerve damage due to complications of certain surgeries. These include:

• ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear reconstruction repairs damage to the ligament holding your knee in place.
• Ankle surgery treats conditions such as broken bones, severe arthritis and nagging tendonitis.
• Cardiac catheterization diagnoses and treats heart issues by inserting tiny instruments through an incision in your groin.
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery transfers a section of your leg artery to your heart to restore blood flow.
• Knee arthroscopy evaluates and treats knee issues using a thin instrument with a camera at the tip.
• Meniscus repair treats torn cartilage in your knee.
• Varicose vein stripping removes unsightly veins that aren’t functioning properly.

When should I call a healthcare provider about problems with my saphenous nerve?

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience signs of saphenous nerve entrapment or injury.

These include experiencing any of the following in your inner knee, calf or ankle:

• Dull, achy pain.
• Burning sensation.
• Muscle tightness.
• Shooting pain.
• Tingling and numbness.

Your healthcare provider may then refer you to a specialist or order a test of your saphenous nerve, called electromyography (EMG).

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Your saphenous nerve lies deep within your leg. It provides sensation to your lower knee, calf, ankle and foot arch. Surgical complications are the most common cause of saphenous nerve injuries. Your nerve is also used in saphenous nerve blocks, which relieve pain or numb the area so you can have a procedure. Seeking care from an experienced surgeon can lower your risk of saphenous nerve injury. Look for a surgeon who:

• Specializes in the type of procedure you need.
• Takes time to get to know you and your medical history.
• Helps you understand why surgery is necessary and how it can help.
• Regularly performs the procedure they’re recommending.