PEDIATRIC PERONEAL MONONEUROPATHY - A CLINICAL AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC STUDY

Seventeen children with pediatric peroneal mononeuropathies evaluated between 1979 and 1991 are reported. Twelve boys and 5 girls, ranging i n age from 1.5 months to 17 years, were referred tor footdrop in 16 ch ildren (94%) or for lower extremity pain in 1 child (6%). Causes inclu ded compression in 10 children (59%), trauma in 3 children (18%), entr apment in 3 children (18%), and indeterminate in 1 child (5%). Based o n nerve conduction studies and electromyography, the level of the pedi atric peroneal mononeuropathic lesion was the common peroneal nerve in 10 children (59%), the deep peroneal nerve in 2 children (12%), and t he superficial peroneal nerve in 1 child (5%). In 4 other children (24 %), pediatric peroneal mononeuropathy at the knee was not more precise ly identified. Surgical exploration in 3 children with progressive ped iatric peroneal mononeuropathy was valuable. Improvement occurred in 1 3 of 17 children (76%). (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.