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Compression of the peroneal nerve by a cyst in a seven-year-old child
L E Gayet1, F Morand, J M Goujon
1Adult and Child Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Hôpital Jean Bernard, CHU de la Milétrie, Poitiers, France.
Insights
A rare synovial cyst compressed the peroneal nerve in a seven-year-old, causing paralysis. Surgical removal of the cyst led to full peroneal nerve recovery within three months.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Neurology
- Surgical Case Reports
Background:
- Peroneal nerve compression is uncommon, with few documented cases since 1921.
- Synovial cysts originating from the fibulo-tibial joint are a rare cause of extrinsic nerve compression.
Observation:
- A seven-year-old child presented with acute, painful swelling and complete peroneal nerve paralysis.
- Diagnostic imaging, including electromyography and MRI, confirmed an extrinsic peroneal nerve compression by a synovial cyst.
- This case represents the youngest patient reported with this condition.
Findings:
- Surgical excision of the synovial cyst was performed.
- Complete recovery of peroneal nerve function was observed within three months post-surgery.
Implications:
- This case highlights synovial cysts as a treatable cause of peroneal nerve palsy in children.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for optimal functional recovery.
- Further research into pediatric fibulo-tibial joint pathologies may be warranted.
Abstract:
Compressions of the peroneal nerve are rare since only some sixty such cases have been described since 1921. The authors report a new observation of compression extrinsic to the peroneal nerve by a synovial cyst, the source of which was the upper fibulo-tibial joint, in a child of seven years. As far as we know, this is the youngest age found in the relevant literature. Because of a swiftly appearing painful swelling, along with complete paralysis of the peroneal nerve, an electromyogram and a nuclear magnetic resonance were performed, with a view to confirming the diagnosis and to clarifying the topography of the cyst. The removal of the latter led to the child being cured with complete recovery of the peroneal nerve within three months.