Wahba Part 1 - Foot Drop + CIDP Flashcards
Differential for unilateral foot drop
Common peroneal neuropathy, L5 radiculopathy, lumbosacral plexopathy, sciatic n. lateral trunk
Differential for chronic bilateral foot drop
Myotonia atrophica, Charcot Marie Tooth, polyneuropathy, ALS, distal myopathy (rare)
What’s spared with peroneal mononeuropathy?
Ankle inversion, plantar flexion, and ankle jerk
Presentation of CMT1
Distal weakness/wasting, pes cavus, arreflexia, mild sensory loss, thick peripheral nerves
Presentation of CMT2
Later onset; nerve conduction velocity relatively normal - axonal>demyelinating pathology; Dx w/ slow nerve conduction, segmental demyelination, hypertrophy
Anatomical course of common peroneal nerve
L5-S3 of sciatic nerve, travels w/ tibial division - motor branch to short head of biceps femoris, sensation to lateral knee. Separates in popliteal fossa, travels around fibular head, pass thru fibular tunnel, divides into superficial+deep peroneal nerves
Presentation for compression at fibular head
Lose dorsiflexion, eversion; lose sensation to anterolateral leg+dorsum of foot. Pt would have tendency to invert foot and high stepping gait
Presentation for entrapment of deep peroneal nerve in anterior tarsal tunnel
Weak toe dorsiflexion, sensory loss in 1st dorsal web space, spares eversion, foot drop, high stepping gait
Presentation for entrapment of superficial peroneal nerve at fascial exit on anterolateral leg
Weak eversion, sensory loss to anterolateral leg/dorsum of foot, dorsiflexion spared
Sensory loss for L5 Root
BIG TOE, MORE MEDIAL
Etiology of L5 radiculopathy
L4-5 disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, prolapsed disc
Features of L5 radiculopathy
Lower back pain, pain radiating down leg (sciatica), weakness in extensor hallucis longus+ankle dorsiflexors+ peroneal muscles, ankle inversion+toe flexion weak, lose big toe sensation
S1 radiculopathy
Weak gastrocnemius+soleus+no ankle jerk
Innervation of gluteus muscles and tensor fascia lata
Gluts medius+maximus by L5-S1; TFL by L5
Other causes of foot drop
Pushing something heavy (disc herniation?), pelvic surgery (retroperiotoneal hematoma of lumbosacral plexus), cancer of pelvis, tight cast,