Deep peroneal-nerve injury as a result of arthroscopic meniscectomy. A case report and review of the literature

Complete tibial nerve lesion secondary to postoperative popliteal pseudoaneurysm following anterior cruciate ligament arthroscopic reconstruction: A series of two patients

Background

Complications following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are rare, but injuries to the popliteal artery can occur. Popliteal pseudoaneurysms are a potential complication and can cause significant morbidity if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

Cases Description

We describe the cases of two patients who developed nerve injuries following arthroscopic ACLR, with subsequent diagnosis of a popliteal pseudoaneurysm. The peroneal nerve recovered spontaneously in both cases, while the tibial nerve was reconstructed using autologous nerve grafting. Satisfying, functional recoveries were observed 24 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of popliteal pseudoaneurysms are crucial to prevent further complications. However, timely diagnosis can be challenging due to inconsistent clinical presentations and a low index of suspicion. This case report highlights the need for increased awareness of this uncommon complication and provides insights into its pathophysiological mechanisms.

Common Peroneal Nerve Injury Due to an All-Inside Repair of the Posterior Horn of Lateral Meniscus: A Case Report

CASE

An 18-year-old man sustained a peroneal nerve (PN) injury during an all-inside repair of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus from the medial portal. Although he could dorsiflex his ankle actively after emergence from general anesthesia, he had a foot drop on the day after surgery. Exploration of the PN at 5 months postoperatively revealed that the nerve was entrapped by the suture. Fifteen months after a nerve repair using a sural nerve graft, he recovered from the foot drop.

CONCLUSION

This case report highlights the risk of PN injury during an all-inside repair of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus.

Great toe drop following knee ligament reconstruction: A case report

Case Description: A 17-year-old male post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction complained of the inability to extend his great toe immediately following surgery. Background: Neurological injuries following knee arthroscopy have been reported to occur between 0.6%-2.5%. The most commonly injured nerves are the saphenous and common fibular nerve (CFN). Great toe-drop secondary to isolated denervation of the extensor hallucis longus (EHL), has only been reported one time in the literature. This report describes a case of isolated denervation of the EHL following knee cruciate ligament reconstruction. A detailed description of the anatomy of the CFN is reviewed as well as how electroneuromyographic (EMG/NCS) testing can assist in the diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention of this type of injury. Outcomes: EHL paralysis did not functionally limit the patient from participating in a post-surgical rehabilitation regime. The patient successfully completed his ACL reconstruction rehabilitation and was released to return to sporting activities 9 months postsurgery. Twelve months post-surgery, the patient regained full great toe extension and strength. Discussion: It is important to note that physical therapists can identify the need for, refer, and in some instances perform EMG/NCS testing on patients with neuromuscular disorders. Isolated injury of the CFN branch that innervates the EHL is extremely rare. Understanding the anatomy of the CFN and its branches is critical for the physical therapist when performing an examination and interpreting the findings. It is also important to understand the potential causes and management approaches following this type of injury.

Peripheral nerve injuries in sports-related surgery: presentation, evaluation, and management: AAOS exhibit selection

Peripheral nerve injuries during sports-related operative interventions are rare complications, but the associated morbidity can be substantial. Early diagnosis, efficient and effective evaluation, and appropriate management are crucial to maximizing the prognosis, and a clear and structured algorithm is therefore required. We describe the surgical conditions and interventions that are commonly associated with intraoperative peripheral nerve injuries. In addition, we review the common postoperative presentations of patients with these injuries as well as the anatomic structures that are directly injured or associated with these injuries during the operation. Some examples of peripheral nerve injuries incurred during sports-related surgery include ulnar nerve injury during ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of the elbow and elbow arthroscopy, median nerve injury during ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction of the elbow, axillary nerve injury during Bankart repair and the Bristow transfer, and peroneal nerve injury during posterolateral corner reconstruction of the knee and arthroscopic lateral meniscal repair. We also detail the clinical and radiographic evaluation of these patients, including the utility and timing of radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasonography, electromyography (EMG), and nonoperative or operative management. The diagnosis, evaluation, and management of peripheral nerve injuries incurred during sports-related surgical interventions are critical to minimizing patient morbidity and maximizing postoperative function. Although these injuries occur during a variety of procedures, common themes exist regarding evaluation techniques and treatment algorithms. Nonoperative treatment includes physical therapy and medical management. Operative treatments include neurolysis, transposition, neurorrhaphy, nerve transfer, and tendon transfer. This article provides orthopaedic surgeons with a simplified, literature-based algorithm for evaluation and management of peripheral nerve injuries associated with sports-related operative procedures.

Peroneal nerve damage by bicortical tibial screw in ACL reconstruction

Arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is regarded as a minimally invasive surgery with low morbidity but complications still occur. Reports of neurovascular injuries related to graft harvesting, tunnel placement, or graft fixation are limited. A rare case of peroneal nerve injury related to hardware used for graft fixation in the tibial in a 28-year-old female patient who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery using a patellar tendon graft (bone-tendon-bone graft) is presented. Post-operatively, the patient presented with clinical signs of peroneal nerve damage and a reduced range of motion of the knee. Plain radiographs of the knee showed the bicortical screw which used for tibial fixation of the graft, penetrating the fibula and projecting beyond the lateral cortex of the fibular neck. The patient was treated with removal of the hardware and the graft. Intensive physiotherapy resulted in gradual improvement and at 6 months after the second operation the patient regained full range of motion of the knee and almost full muscle strength performing her daily activities without any difficulty and she is at the moment unwilling to undergo further procedure.

[Knee and shoulder arthroscopy. Positioning and thermal injuries]

Intraoperative positioning injuries during shoulder- and knee arthroscopy are rare complications and affect mainly nerves and soft tissue. Although the majority of these complications are reversible, in some cases serious negative consequences for the patient persist. This article describes the frequency of several positioning injuries including their prevention and the appropriate treatment. The legal responsibilities are illustrated as well as the importance of an intense preoperative investigation of preexisting diseases and possible risk factors. Furthermore, a review of possible thermal injuries of the patient during arthroscopy caused by e.g. electrosurgical instruments or the cold light source, is given as well as prevention strategies.

Italian multicentre study of peroneal mononeuropathy at the fibular head: study design and preliminary results

BACKGROUND

The most common entrapment in the lower extremity is peroneal mononeuropathy (PM) at the fibular head. Several studies of this condition have been published but, until now, no wide multicenter clinical-neurophysiological studies on PM are available. In recent years, multicenter studies have been suggested; moreover it is commonly accepted that a multiperspective approach provides more comprehensive results.

METHOD

The Italian CTS and other entrapments Study Group has designed a strict clinical and neurophysiological protocol to carry out a wide multicentre study on PM at the fibular head. In addition to traditional clinical-neurophysiological evaluation, the group has also adopted validated disability and patient-oriented measurements in order to obtain more comprehensive and reliable data about this entrapment. The study was designed: 1) to identify predisposing factors; 2) to better assess the clinical picture; 3) to evaluate relationships between etiological, clinical and neurophysiological findings; 4) to evaluate the natural evolution of the entrapment. Study design is described.

FINDINGS

During the period from November 2002 to January 2004, 69 patients were enrolled consecutively in eleven Italian centres. Our preliminary data show that PM involves men more frequently than women (M:F = 3.9:1). With regard to the predisposing factors, PM is idiopathic (16%) or due to surgery (21.7%), prolonged posture (23.2%), weight loss (14.5%), external compression (5.8%), arthrogenic cyst at the fibula (1.4%), trauma (10.1%); it also occurred in bedridden patients (7.3%). Unexpectedly, peroneal nerve lesions were due not only to surgical operation close to the peroneal region, but were also associated with thoracic-abdominal surgery. Usually PM involves both terminal branches; patients complain of motor deficit in 99.5% of cases, sensory symptoms in 87.9% and pain in 19.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary results provide some interesting information and confirm the usefulness of multicentre and multiperspective studies to standardise the approach to nerve entrapment.

Lesion of the common peroneal nerve during arthroscopy

Arthroscopic knee surgery has been well accepted worldwide and has become an important part of orthopaedic surgery. The use of arthroscopy has reduced the duration of hospitalization, overall costs, and time required for the patient to return to sports activities or work. However, because of the closed nature of the procedure and proximity of neurovascular structures to instruments, substantial risk of injuries exists. Significant anatomic variability in the nerve course has not been reported in previous literature as a cause of a knee arthroscopy complication. We present a case of complete transection of an unusually located common peroneal nerve during a knee arthroscopy for lateral meniscal repair in a 22-year-old football player.

Neurovascular complications of knee arthroscopy

During the last 3 decades, arthroscopy has revolutionized the way knee surgery is performed. The indications and the applications of arthroscopic procedures in the knee joint have enormously increased with the improvement in surgical technique and advent of new arthroscopic equipment. The use of arthroscopic techniques has led to a significant decrease in morbidity for the patient with intraarticular abnormalities, in terms of both diagnosis and surgical correction. Even though knee arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively low morbidity, it is not without risk of complications, of which neurovascular complications are among the most serious and devastating. The reported incidence of neurovascular complication is low, but it may be underestimated. Many neurovascular complications that occur are preventable with a thorough understanding of neurovascular anatomy, good preoperative and intraoperative planning, and attention to the details of basic techniques and the equipment used for the procedure. It is imperative that the surgeon who is performing arthroscopy be aware of these neurovascular complications, recognize them as early as possible, and initiate further evaluation and treatment as expeditiously as possible. In this article, the causes, management, prevention, and medicolegal implications of neurovascular complications of knee arthroscopy are reviewed.

Common peroneal nerve palsy following knee arthroscopy

We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who underwent knee arthroscopy. Postoperatively, she developed a lesion of the common peroneal nerve, which was confirmed by neurophysiological studies. Exploration showed the nerve to be in continuity and externally undamaged. At review 17 months later, there was incomplete recovery. We believe this lesion was caused by a traction injury related to patient positioning, which has not been reported previously.

From the archives of the AFIP. Imaging of musculoskeletal neurogenic tumors: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Numerous neurogenic tumors can affect the musculoskeletal system, including traumatic neuroma, Morton neuroma, neural fibrolipoma, nerve sheath ganglion, neurilemoma, neurofibroma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs). The diagnosis of neurogenic tumors can be suggested from their imaging appearances, including lesion shape and intrinsic imaging characteristics. It is also important to establish lesion location along a typical nerve distribution (eg, plantar digital nerve in Morton neuroma, median nerve in neural fibrolipoma, large nerve trunk in benign and malignant PNSTs). Traumatic and Morton neuromas are commonly related to an amputation stump or are located in the intermetatarsal space, respectively. Neural fibrolipomas show fat interspersed between nerve fascicles and are often associated with macrodactyly. Nerve sheath ganglion has a cystic appearance and commonly occurs about the knee. Radiologic characteristics of neurilemoma, neurofibroma, and malignant PNST at computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging include fusiform shape, identification of entering and exiting nerve, low attenuation at CT, target sign, fascicular sign, split-fat sign, and associated muscle atrophy. Although differentiation of neurilemoma from neurofibroma and of benign from malignant PNST is problematic, recognition of the radiologic appearances of neurogenic tumors often allows prospective diagnosis and improves clinical management of patients.

Evaluation of the anatomy of the common peroneal nerve. Defining nerve-at-risk in arthroscopically assisted lateral meniscus repair

A two-part study was undertaken to clarify the anatomy of the common peroneal nerve at the level of the lateral joint line and risk factors associated with arthroscopically assisted inside-out lateral meniscus repair. In part I, 70 legs in 35 preserved cadavera were dissected to evaluate the relevant anatomy of the common peroneal nerve; 7 (10%) manifested division of the common peroneal nerve into deep and superficial branches proximal to the knee joint. A cutaneous branch not previously described in the literature emanated from the common peroneal trunk in 21 of the legs (30%). In part II, arthroscopically assisted inside-out lateral meniscus repair was performed on 10 fresh-frozen cadaveric knees. Divergence between suture arms increased as suture position was sequentially posterior. Capture of a nerve branch occurred in 2 knees (20%) when posterior retraction was not used. Nerve involvement was eliminated when a retractor was employed. There was significant anatomic variability in the course and branching pattern of the common peroneal nerve at the level of the lateral joint line. During arthroscopically assisted inside-out lateral meniscus repair, risk of injuring the peroneal nerve was related to suture position because of the proximity of anatomic structures and the tendency for suture divergence with soft tissue tethering.

Iatrogenic nerve injuries

Iatrogenic nerve injuries are an undesired byproduct of the practice of medicine and have been so since antiquity. The majority of such injuries occur perioperatively, and are, therefore, attributed to surgeons and anesthesiologists. Nonetheless, the members of almost every clinical specialty are at risk to some degree. Iatrogenic nerve injuries can affect almost any portion of the peripheral nervous system, and can result from many different causes. This article reviews many of the more common iatrogenic nerve lesions.