If a patient has sensory impairment in the lateral lower leg and dorsum of the foot, which nerve may be affected?

The sensory impairment described in the lateral lower leg and dorsum of the foot points towards the involvement of the superficial peroneal nerve. This nerve is primarily responsible for providing sensation to the skin on the dorsum of the foot and part of the lower leg.

The superficial peroneal nerve arises from the common peroneal nerve and supplies sensation to the majority of the dorsum of the foot, with the exception of a small area between the first and second toes, which is innervated by the deep peroneal nerve. Given that the impairment is noted specifically in the lateral aspect of the lower leg and the dorsum of the foot, the superficial peroneal nerve is well-suited to explain these symptoms as it covers those regions.

The deep peroneal nerve, while it does provide sensory innervation to a portion of the dorsum of the foot, typically affects the area between the first and second toes, which is not mentioned as being impaired here. The common peroneal nerve can lead to a variety of deficits because it branches into both the superficial and deep peroneal nerves, but its sensory distribution is more generalized and does not specifically localize to the regions outlined in the question. The tibial nerve primarily innerv