Compression Syndromes of the Peroneal Nerve

Compressions (including non-immediate traumatic lesions) of the deep peroneal nerve at the level of the knee joint are the most common localized neuropathies of the lower extremities. The causes for this are the exposed location on the fibular head with a particular tendency to pressure lesions, but also anatomical narrow spots and other peculiarities. A typical example is ganglia that originate from the tibiofibular joint and can cause extra- or intraneural lesions. Neurosonography and magnetic resonance imaging are important additional diagnostics for the latter. Compressions of the superficial peroneal nerve on the lower leg and of the distal deep peroneal nerve on the dorsum of the foot are much less common. The latter is known as the so-called anterior tarsal tunnel syndrome.