Common peroneal nerve palsycomplicating ankle sprain: report of 5 cases and review of theliterature

Abstract Common peroneal nerve palsy associated with inversionsprains of the ankle has been mentioned in the literature on acase presentation basis only and is consequently regarded to bea rare complication. The etiologic mechanisms responsible forthe nerve impairment have not been clearly identified. The onsetof the palsy may be delayed and recovery seems to occur mostlyspontaneously. Yet, some of the cases reported in the literatureeventually required a surgical treatment, which was alwaysfollowed by complete recovery. In this paper we present 5additional cases of this peculiar neuropathy: all the patientswere surgically treated, but only in 2 cases we observed aneurological recovery. The relevant literature is also brieflyreviewed.