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Pediatric peroneal mononeuropathy: a clinical and electromyographic study
H R Jones1, K J Felice, P T Gross
1Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Muscle & Nerve
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Pediatric peroneal mononeuropathies, often causing foot drop, were studied in 17 children. Most cases improved with treatment, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and intervention for these nerve conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Background:
- Pediatric peroneal mononeuropathies are uncommon nerve disorders affecting children.
- Foot drop is the most frequent presenting symptom, impacting mobility and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the clinical characteristics, causes, and outcomes of pediatric peroneal mononeuropathies.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 17 pediatric patients diagnosed with peroneal mononeuropathies between 1979 and 1991.
- Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) were used to localize the nerve lesion.
- Surgical exploration was performed in select cases with progressive symptoms.
Main Results:
- The study included 12 boys and 5 girls aged 1.5 months to 17 years, with 94% presenting with foot drop.
- Common causes identified were compression (59%), trauma (18%), and entrapment (18%).
- Lesions were most commonly located at the common peroneal nerve (59%), with improvement in 76% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric peroneal mononeuropathies can result from various etiologies, with compression being the most frequent.
- Nerve conduction studies and electromyography are crucial for diagnosis and localization.
- A significant majority of children experienced improvement, underscoring the potential for recovery with appropriate management.