Outcomes of Common Peroneal Nerve Decompression

Purpose: Common peroneal nerve (CPN) neuropathy is the most common lower extremity mononeuropathy. When delayed or no recovery from CPN neuropathy is suspected, surgical CPN decompression (CPND) is considered to relieve symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes post-CPND performed by a single surgeon at a tertiary medical center.

Methods: Patient outcomes after CPND performed by a single surgeon were reviewed. Motor, sensation, and pain scores post-CPND were assessed in 47 of the 46 patients. Patient demographics, including age, concomitant morbidities, time from injury to surgery, and body mass index (BMI), were also analyzed for correlations with outcomes after CPND by logistic regression.

Results: 29/34 patients with impaired motor function improved by at least one motor grade, 19/42 with altered sensation reported restored normal sensation, and 31/37 reported improved pain after CPND. No correlation of patient demographic factors with motor or pain improvement after CPND was observed. However, a BMI greater than 29.15 and a time between injury and surgery exceeding 506 days were associated with lower odds of reporting restored sensation.

Conclusions: Operative decompression of CPN neuropathy improves objective motor scores and subjective sensation and pain scores.