Superficial peroneal nerve entrapment in ankle sprain in childhood and adolescence

Traumatic injuries of the ankle are the most common injuries in sports. Up to 40% of patients who have undergone inversion ankle sprain report residual symptoms. The primary purpose of the study is to evaluate the incidence of SPN entrapment as consequence of acute severe inversion ankle sprain in children and adolescents; the secondary is to report the diagnostic pathway and the results after surgical treatment. From 2000 to 2015 were reviewed to summarize patients under the age of 15 years treated for a first episode of severe inversion ankle sprain. Cases with persistent symptoms (more than 3 months) indicative for SPN neuropathy were then identified. Instrumental investigations were recovered and a pre-operative assessment of pain (VAS) was recorded. Patients were evaluated at minimum of 1-year post-operative follow-up. 981 acute ankle sprains have been evaluated. 122 were considered severe according to van Dijk criteria. 5 patients were considered affected by neuropathy of the SPN. All patients underwent surgery consisting in neurolysis and capsular retention and ligament reconstruction. At 25 months of follow-up AOFAS moved from 57.6 to 98.6. The study highlights a previously unreported condition of perineural fibrosis of the superficial peroneal nerve at the level of the ankle following first acute severe inversion ankle sprain in children.