Superficial Peroneal Nerve Entrapment Causing Chronic Pain in the Foot: A Case Report

Abstract

The superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) supplies sensory innervation to the lower two-thirds of the lateral leg and the dorsum of the foot, with the exception of the first web space. Therefore, isolated entrapment of the SPN results in pain and sensory deficit of the dorsum of the foot or lateral lower leg without corresponding weakness of the peroneus muscle. Although entrapment of the SPN passing from the subfacial to the subcutaneous tissue in the peroneal tunnel was discovered as early as 1954, there were few reports of treatment of SPN entrapment. We report a case of a 73-year-old patient who presented with chronic numbness and allodynia of a 2-year duration due to entrapment of the SPN. Characteristic pain distribution and presentation of the symptoms were essential in preoperative diagnosis of SPN entrapment. The SPN and its branches were addressed in the peroneal tunnel and their courses were completely decompressed during the operation. Two months after the surgery, tingling pain and allodynia were recovered completely.