Peroneal neuropathy after weight loss: a high-resolution ultrasonographic characterization of the common peroneal nerve
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Liesbeth Meylaerts; Beatrijs Velghe; Gelin G; Frank Weyns; Eline Cardinaels; Linda Vanormelingen; Jan Vandevenne
- Source
- Skeletal Radiology. 40:1557-1562
- Subject
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
High resolution
Peroneal neuropathy
Young Adult
Weight loss
Weight Loss
medicine
Humans
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Child
Peroneal Neuropathies
Aged
Ultrasonography
Aged, 80 and over
Anatomy, Cross-Sectional
business.industry
Peroneal Nerve
Middle Aged
Surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Female
medicine.symptom
business
Common peroneal nerve
- Language
- ISSN
- 1432-2161
0364-2348
The objective of this study was to use in vivo ultrasonographic imaging to analyze the common peroneal nerve in controls and patients who were diagnosed with peroneal neuropathy (PN) due to significant weight loss. We also looked for a relationship between weight loss (magnitude) and the occurrence of PN.Fifty controls and six patients who were diagnosed with PN after losing a significant amount of weight were examined by means of ultrasonography (US). On the US images, the structure and reflectivity of the nerve were analyzed. Correlations were made between the ultrasonographic measurements and the body mass index (BMI) of controls. In PN patients, these ultrasonographic parameters were compared between the normal and pathological legs.BMI was positively correlated with the transverse cross-sectional area of the nerve and fibular tunnel in controls. In controls with a high BMI, the peroneal nerve appeared thicker and the US reflectivity of the nerve was higher. A lower US reflectivity was observed in the pathological legs of the six patients who developed PN after weight loss.The transverse cross-sectional area and reflectivity of the peroneal nerve on the US images could be viable tools in the diagnosis of PN after weight loss.