Background and Aims: The accessory obturator nerve (AON) often innervates the hip joint and adductor longus. The AON is present in 10-30% of patients, and thus it is clinically important that it is also considered during obturator nerve (ON) blockade. The aim of the study is to identify the incidence of accessory nerve.

Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 23 cadavers (46 body-sides) and the AON beginning from the lumbar plexus was observed.

Results: Throughout the dissections, the AON was detected on five sides (10.8%).

Conclusion: Owing to its anatomical structure, the AON can be easily accessed during classical ON blockade. Further clinical studies are needed to investigate if supplementing ON blockade with AON blockade might improve the clinical efficiency and quality of the blockade.

Keywords: accessory obturator nerve, lumbar plexus, nerve block.

1. Russell T. Woodburne (1960), The Acces-sory Obturator Nerve and the Innervation of the Pectineus Muscle, The Anatomical Record. Mar; 136(3): 367–369.
2. Eisler P (1892), Der Plexus lumbosacralis des Menschen,
3. Bardeen, C. R. 1906 Development and variation of the nerves and the musculature of the inferior extremity and of the neighboring regions of the trunk in man. Am. J. Anat., 6: 259-390
4. De Sousa, 0. M. 1942 Concideracoes anatomocirurgicas sobre 6 nervo obturator acessorio. Rev. Cir. S. Paulo, 7: 399-402.
5. Kaiser, R. A. 1949 Obturator and accessory obturator nerves. J. Bone Jt. Surg., 31A: 815-819.
6. Russell T. Woodburne (1960), The Accessory Obturator Nerve and the Innervation of the Pectineus Muscle, The Anatomical Record. Mar; 136(3): 367–369.
7. Sim IW, Webb T (2004), Anatomy and anesthesia of the lumbar somatic plexus, Anesthesia and Intensive Care. Apr; 32(2):178-87.
8. Chandraphak, Supichya, Sangvichien, Sanjai, Chuncharunee, Aporn (2003), Anatomic variations of the lumbar plexus in Thais, Siriraj Medical Journal. Dec; 55(12): 704-712.
9. Philip A. Anloague and Peter Huijbregts (2009), Anatomical Variations of the Lumbar Plexus: A Descriptive Anatomy Study with Proposed Clinical Implications, The journal of manual and manipulative therapy. 17(4): e107–e114.
10. Katritsis E, Anagnostopoulou S, Papadopoulos N (1980), Anatomical observations on the accessory obturator nerve (based on 1000 specimens

Bethi Manasa

Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Malla Reddy Medical College for Women,

Suraram, Hyderabad, T.S

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.