peripheral nerve entrapments

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Abstract from Foot Ankle Clin. 2004 Jun;9(2):255-69

Peripheral nerve entrapments.

Hirose CB, McGarvey WC.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas School Health

Science Center at Houston Medical School, 6411 Fannin, Suite 1100,

Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Peripheral nerve entrapment is a rare, but important, cause of foot and

ankle pain that often is underdiagnosed and mistreated. A peripheral

nerve may become entrapped anywhere along its course, but certain

anatomic locations are characteristic. Clinically,nerve entrapment is

divided into three stages: in stage I patients feel rest pain and

intermittent paresthesias which are worse at night; in stage II,

continued nerve compression leads to paresthesias, numbness, and,

occasionally, muscle weakness that does not disappear during the day,

and in stage III, patients describe constant pain, muscle atrophy, and

permanent sensory loss. Diagnostic confusion abounds because of the

multiple etiologies of peripheral nerve entrapments and their complex

physical and temporal relation. A thorough understanding of the causes

of peripheral nerve entrapments, the anatomic course and variation of

the peripheral nerves, the diagnostic modalities, and the treatment

options can simplify this complex problem.