Surgical Procedures

Superficial Peroneal Nerve Release in the Lower Leg

Symptoms of a compressed superficial peroneal nerve in the lower leg includes numbness and tingling in the dorsal aspect of the foot and lateral aspect of the lower leg. These symptoms can be exaggerated when the peroneal nerve is under tension during movements of the leg and foot. Compression of the superficial peroneal nerve occurs due to the transverse crural ligament and the tight superficial fascia that encapsulates he lower leg musculature. The superficial peroneal nerve has a course just deep to this superficial fascia and exits superficially distal to the transverse crural ligament. Release of this fascia and ligament will decompress the superficial peroneal nerve. Other known areas of peroneal nerve compression include the common peroneal nerve at the fibular head and the deep peroneal nerve in the foot by the extensor hallucis brevis.

Standard 110921

Extended 110921

POSITION

Supine.

INCISION

The incision is two fingerbreadths lateral to the apex of the tibia centering over the region 10-12 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus.

REFERENCES

  1. Franco MJ, Phillips BZ, Lalchandani GR, Mackinnon SE. Decompression of the superficial peroneal nerve: clinical outcomes and anatomical study. J Neurosurg. 2016 Apr 22:1-6. PMID: 27104849.
  2. Humphreys DB, Novak CB, Mackinnon SE. Patient outcome after common peroneal nerve decompression. J Neurosurg. 2007 Aug;107(2):314-8. PMID: 17695385.

Disclosure: No authors have a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this production or publication.

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