Peroneal Nerve Injury
Peroneal nerve injury or contusion may result from a blow to the outside of the knee causing numbess and tingling.
Symptoms of Peroneal Nerve Injury Include:
- Numbness or tingling in the front and/or side of the lower leg, or top of the foot.
- Decreased sensitivity when touching these areas.
- Weakness in lifting the foot upwards and turning it outwards.
- In severe cases - foot drop (where the foot cannot be lifted up enough to clear the floor when walking).
- A slapping gait - the foot slaps on the ground when walking as there is insufficient control over these muscles.
Peroneal Nerve Injury Explained
The Peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve which runs down the outside of the lower leg, serving the peroneal muscles, which help to invert the foot (turn the sole outwards) and pull the foot upwards. This may be known as peroneal neuropathy.
This nerve may be injured in a number of ways:
- Injury to the outer knee (where the nerve is very close to the skin).
- Swelling, inflammation or infection.
- Fibula fracture.
- Knee dislocation.
- Injury during surgery.
- Repeated pressure on the outer knee (i.e. crossing the legs when sitting or wearing tight clothing or bracing etc).
Similar symptoms may be present due to compression of the nerve at a higher level, usually either at the nerve root (L4 - S3) or in the buttocks.
