Peroneal nerve paralysis: Characteristics and therapeutic results of eight operated cases

Abstract

Peroneal nerve paralysis: Characteristics and therapeutic results of eight operated cases Objective: Peroneal nerve paralysis is one of the peripheral nerve lesions often seen in the lower limb. In this paper, characteristics and surgical treatment results of eight cases in whom peroneal nerve injury developed due to mechanical, traumatic and postural reasons were investigated. Material and Method: Between April 2011 and November 2013, eight patients who referred to our clinic due to lower leg related to peroneal nerve injury were treated. In order to diagnose the illness and determine the level of injury, electromyography (EMG) and neural transmission speed study were carried out on all patients. During motor assessment, strong sides of patients were compared. Results: Six of the patients were men and 2 of them were women, and average age was 41.9±4.2 (range: 23-72). One of the patients had an ankle sprain history, two of them had a history of long term practice by falling on their knees, in two a history of wearing top boots or wellies, in other two patients a history of waiting for hours by crossing their legs, and one patient had a trauma history on knee-joint level after a traffic accident. Average duration of symptoms and findings were 3.8 months (range: 3-6 months) A very serious slowness in the transmission speed and an amplitude block were seen in main peroneal nerve and at a level of fibular head during the EMG done to the patients. All the patients were treated at the level of fibular head by doing peroneal nerve decompression. Conclusion: Peroneal nerve is usually pinched in fibular head or neck side. In the cases not responding to conservative treatments, satisfactory results are generally obtained by freeing of nerve at fibular