Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Neuropathy of the peroneal nerve is a condition that combines sensory and motor impairment. Rooted in L4, L5, S1, and S2 nerve origins, this condition encompasses both the superficial and deep peroneal nerves. Peroneal nerve neuropathy is caused by injury knee dislocations, lower leg fractures and compressive injuries. Symptoms include numbness, “pins and needles” or “burning” type pain, weakness, foot drop and more. Accurate diagnosis and adequate treatment are necessary for good prognosis.
Understanding Peroneal Nerve Neuropathy
Neuropathy of the peroneal nerve involves impairment of both movement and sensation in the leg and foot. Understanding the anatomy and function of the peroneal nerve is necessary for a full grasp of this complex disease process.
Anatomy of the Peroneal Nerve
The peroneal nerves arise from nerve roots L4, L5, S1, and, to a lesser extent, S2. One branch runs to the superficial and another runs to the deep nerve.
- Knowing the route and construction of the nerve is critical to diagnosing and treating neurosis.
- Functions of the Peroneal Nerve
- Movement Functions
- The peroneal nerve plays an important part in movement of the foot and ankle
- It participates in dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot
- Sensory Functions
- This nerve provides sensation to parts of the leg and foot
- Altered or lost sensation could be an indicator of nerve damage
Causes of Peroneal Nerve Neuropathy
Since peroneal nerve neuropathy can have many causes, it is accompanied by a range of symptoms that influence movement and sensation in the leg and foot. Direct trauma is one of the major contributors to developing peroneal nerve neuropathy as a condition.
Fractures in the legbones and particularly near the area the peroneal nerve runs can directly trauma to this and result in neuropathy.Leg FracturesCompressive InjuriesProlonged Leg Crossing: Compressiveinjury in this area can result from spending long periods with your legs crossed, setting up the peroneal nerve to be compressed by the surrounding tissues.Tight Casts or Bandages: Putting too much pressure on the peroneal nerve by applying super-tightsplints or bandages on the leg will also be likely to cause compression and hence neuropathy.Surgical ImpactsTotal Knee Arthroplasty: Surgicalprocedures such as the total knee arthroplasties also called knee replacements may at times make mistakes in touching the peroneal nerve, leading it to become neuropathy.Neurological DisordersMultiple Sclerosis: Illnesseslike multiple sclerosis, which damage the myelin sheaths that surround and protect, will also have an impact on the peroneal nerve which can cause neuropathy to appear or worsen.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:
Tingling and numbness are common sensory symptoms of peroneal peripheral neuropathy in the affected leg.Many patients experience a sensation of pins and needles in this area, along with dull aching pain afterwards.Loss of feeling as well as pain: Some sufferers may not be able to tell whether something is hot or cold, while their sense of touch will also lessen and become less acute over time.Motor SymptomsWeakness Causative of Foot and ankle weakness can result from damage to the peroneal nerve, making it difficult to walk maintain your balance even stand. The feeling associated with this is a sense of unsteadiness which may then lead to falling. It also makes it very hard indeed for one to get back up again and even though this type is not as often apparent–but more serious than The Farmer John Syndrome.
Methods to Diagnose Peroneal Nerve Neuropathy
Diagnosis of peroneal nerve neuropathy is only possible by combining clinical examination with a series of tests. Let’s get down in there.
Clinical Observations
Doctors make a thorough clinical examination to determine the symptoms shown by the patient. This could involve an evaluation of sensory functions, motor ability, and gait abnormalities, leading to a diagnosis.
Electromyography (EMG)
Electromyography, often referred as EMG is another indispensable diagnostic tool for assessing muscle activity and discovering abnormalities in nerve function. Health providers probe the connections between nerves and muscles by inserting tiny electrodes into muscle tissue, a process that can aid in diagnosis of peroneal nerve neuropathy.
- Treatment for Peroneal Nerve Neuropathy
- Non-Surgical Treatments
- Physiotherapy: Orthotics.