HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gruber, H. Articles by Bodner, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gruber, H. Articles by Bodner, G. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Peroneal Nerve Palsy Associated with Knee Luxation: Evaluation by Sonography—Initial Experiences

¹ Clinics of Radiodiagnostics, Department of Radiology I, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, Innsbruck, Tirol 6020, Austria.
² Clinics of Plastic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Tirol 6020, Austria.

OBJECTIVE. Traumatic knee dislocation needs immediate surgical repair to restore joint function. A concomitant traction injury of the peroneal nerve is reported to exist in up to 25% of cases and is often overlooked initially. In patients with major nerve lesions, immediate surgical nerve repair might be necessary to avoid irreversible loss of neural function. In the present study, we tried to evaluate whether sonography is a valuable tool for identification of nerve pathology that warrants surgical intervention.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS. In this prospective study, both peroneal nerves in nine patients with one-sided peroneal nerve palsy after closed knee luxation and the peroneal nerves of 11 healthy volunteers were investigated with sonography. Using statistical analysis, we tried to define the comparability and significance of the findings.

RESULTS. The mean cross-sectional area of healthy peroneal nerves in the genicular region was 0.18 cm² (SD, 0.07 cm²). Impaired nerves were significantly discerned because of their increased cross-sectional area at the level of the injury (mean cross-sectional area, 0.7 cm²; SD, 0.46 cm²; p < 0.05). Identification of caliber changes and depiction of at least one nerve stump were found to be the most specific criteria for the definition of a major neural lesion. The ability of sonography to provide additional information about surrounding soft-tissue impairment (scar tissue and hematoma formation) proved helpful.

CONCLUSION. Sonography allows radiologists to visualize neural and extraneural pathology and to define the exact level and extent of lesions. Thus, it may be a valuable adjunct in the decision of whether surgical intervention is necessary.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. E. Johnson, L. Foster, and J. C. DeLee Neurologic and Vascular Injuries Associated With Knee Ligament Injuries Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 2008; 36(12): 2448 - 2462. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. H. Visser High-resolution sonography of the common peroneal nerve: Detection of intraneural ganglia Neurology, October 24, 2006; 67(8): 1473 - 1475. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]