Review Question - QID 3349

Point A demonstrates the first branch of the lateral plantar nerve (Baxter's nerve). Baxter's nerve innervates the abductor digiti quinti, flexor digitorum brevis, and quadratus plantae. It traverses just superior to the insertion of the plantar fascia on the medial calcaneal tuberosity. Compression of this nerve causes maximal pain over the plantar medial aspect of the foot, and can be difficult to distinguish from plantar fasciitis. Baxter's nerve compression is a common pattern of entrapment found in the running athlete.

Illustration A depicts the sensory distribution of the tibial nerve. Illustration B shows the dissection with the other responses labeled; Point B are the medial calcaneal nerve branches, Point C is the tibial nerve, Point D is the lateral plantar nerve and Point E is the medial plantar nerve.

The review article by Neufeld and Cerrato discusses plantar fasciitis and its differential diagnoses including Baxter's nerve compression, calcaneal stress fracture, lumbar radiculopathy, and plantar fibromatosis.

Incorrect Answers:
B-D: These are not the lateral plantar nerve (Baxter's), and are not as commonly implicated in compression/entrapment.
E: The medial plantar nerve is commonly associated with entrapment in long-distance runners, and this phenomenon is referred to as Jogger's foot.