Immediate Nerve Transfer for the Treatment of Peroneal Nerve Palsy Secondary to an Intraneural Ganglion: Case Report and Review

• Published in: Canadian journal of plastic surgery 2017-02, Vol.25 (1), p.54-58
• Main Authors: Ratanshi, I., Clark, T. A., Giuffre, Jennifer L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ankle; Case Report and Review; Case reports; Comparative studies; Cysts; Knee; Neurological disorders; Neurosurgery; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Older people; Pain; Patients; Plastic surgery; Studies; Surgical outcomes
• ISSN: 2292-5503; 2292-5511
• DOI: 10.1177/2292550317694842

Intraneural ganglion cysts that occur within the common peroneal nerve are a rare cause of foot drop. The current standard of treatment for intraneural ganglion cysts involving the common peroneal nerve involves (1) cyst decompression and (2) ligation of the articular nerve branch to prevent recurrence. Nerve transfers are a time-dependent strategy for recovering ankle dorsiflexion in cases of high peroneal nerve palsy; however, this modality has not been performed for intraneural ganglion cysts involving the common peroneal nerve. We present a case of common peroneal nerve palsy secondary to an intraneural ganglion cyst occurring in a 74-year-old female. The patient presents with a 5-month history of pain in the right common peroneal nerve distribution and foot drop. The patient underwent simultaneous cyst decompression, articular nerve branch ligation, and nerve transfer of the motor branch to the flexor hallucis longus to a motor branch of the anterior tibialis muscle. At final follow-up, the patient demonstrated complete (M4+) return of ankle dorsiflexion, no pain, and no evidence of recurrence and was able to weight bare without the need of orthotic support. Given the minimal donor site morbidity and recovery of ankle dorsiflexion, this report underscores the importance of considering early nerve transfers in cases of high peroneal neuropathy due to an intraneural ganglion cyst.