Revisiting the Muscular Innervation of the Obturator Nerve: Application to Neurotization Procedures

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to revisit the innervation of the adductor muscles of the thigh and add new evidence to currently existing knowledge. METHODS: Ten thighs from five fresh frozen cadavers were dissected. Obturator nerve innervation to the pectineus, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, adductor longus, and gracilis was documented. RESULTS: The adductor longus and gracilis were innervated by the anterior branch in 100%, and the adductor magnus was innervated by the posterior branch in 100%. The adductor brevis was supplied by both the anterior and posterior branches in 90%. The obturator externus was innervated by the posterior branch in 60% and a direct branch from the main trunk in 10%. No innervation of the obturator externus by the obturator nerve was found in 30%. CONCLUSIONS: The obturator externus and adductor brevis need to be explored further to clarify their innervation.