Common Peroneal Nerve Compression

Abstract

Entrapment of the common peroneal nerve at the knee can cause sensory and motor symptoms and functional problems that affect the foot and ankle. This article reviews the signs and symptoms of entrapment of this nerve. It also presents a retrospective assessment of subjective improvement in symptoms and the activity level after decompression of the common peroneal nerve. A consecutive series of 17 patients who underwent neurolysis of the common peroneal nerve, 4 bilaterally, is reported. Eighteen (86%) of the 21 surgical procedures had a good-to-excellent outcome, whereas three outcomes (14%) were not improved. Decompression of the common peroneal nerve offers a chance for improvement of sensory and motor symptoms in carefully selected patients. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 96(5): 413–417, 2006)