2018-03-01
Ultrasound assessment of the sural nerve in patients with neuropathic pain after ankle surgery
Publication
Publication
Muscle & Nerve , Volume 57 - Issue 3 p. 407- 413
Introduction: The sural nerve may be damaged after ankle injury. The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic utility of high-resolution sonography in patients with ankle fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation in whom there was a clinical suspicion of sural neuropathy.
Methods: We examined the ultrasound (US) characteristics of patients with and without postsurgical sural neuropathic pain and healthy volunteers. Cross-sectional area (CSA), echogenicity, and vascularization of the sural nerves were recorded.
Results: Fourteen participants and all sural nerves were identified. CSA (P < 0.001) and vascularization (P = 0.002) were increased in symptomatic patients when compared with asymptomatic patients and healthy volunteers. There were no significant differences in nerve echogenicity (P = 0.983).
Discussion: US may be a valuable tool for evaluating clinically suspected sural nerve damage after ankle stabilization surgery. Sural nerve abnormalities are seen in patients with postsurgical neuropathic pain. Muscle Nerve 57: 407–413, 2018.
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doi.org/10.1002/mus.25744, hdl.handle.net/1765/104789 | |
Muscle & Nerve | |
Organisation | Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
Rbia, N., Nijhuis, T., Roukema, G., Selles, R., van der Vlies, C., & Hovius, S. (2018). Ultrasound assessment of the sural nerve in patients with neuropathic pain after ankle surgery. Muscle & Nerve, 57(3), 407–413. doi:10.1002/mus.25744 |