Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment: Difference between revisions

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{{Authors}}
{{Authors}}
{{Condition}}
{{Condition|clinicalfeatures=Lateral foot neuropathic pain with weightbearing. Tenderness over the medial calcaneal tubercle.|tests=Diagnostic injection, ultrasound, MRI, plain films.}}
== Anatomy ==
== Anatomy ==
The posterior tibial nerve courses down the foot through the tarsal tunnel and ramifies into the lateral plantar nerve and medial plantar nerve. The lateral plantar nerve is the smaller of the two.
The [[Sciatic Nerve|sciatic nerve]] runs down the leg and divides into the [[Common Peroneal Nerve|common peroneal nerve]] and [[Tibial Nerve|tibial nerve]] near the popliteal fossa. At the ankle the tibial nerve is often called the posterior tibial nerve even though it is not a separate branch.
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The posterior tibial nerve courses down the foot through the tarsal tunnel and ramifies into the [[Lateral Plantar Nerve|lateral plantar nerve]], [[Medial Plantar Nerve|medial plantar nerve]], and the [[Medial Calcaneal Nerve|medial calcaneal nerve]]. There are independent medial and lateral plantar tunnels separated by the medial septum between the medial calcaneus and the deep fascia of the [[Abductor Hallucis|abductor hallucis]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Brown|first=Michael N.|last2=Pearce|first2=Beth S.|last3=Vanetti|first3=Thais Khouri|last4=Trescot|first4=Andrea M.|last5=Karl|first5=Helen W.|date=2016|editor-last=Trescot|editor-first=Andrea M.|title=Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_74|language=en|location=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|pages=833ā€“844|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_74|isbn=978-3-319-27480-5}}</ref>


== Aetiology ==
== Aetiology ==
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* Trauma/surgery: failed tarsal tunnel release, harvest of flexor hallucis longus tendon (but medial plantar nerve injury is more likely)
* Trauma/surgery: failed tarsal tunnel release, harvest of flexor hallucis longus tendon (but medial plantar nerve injury is more likely)
* Lesions: Neurilemmoma, pseudoganglion.
* Lesions: Neurilemmoma, pseudoganglion.
* Foot abnormalities: increased foot pronation, midtarsal joint laxity, forefoot varus, rear foot eversion, pes planus, cavovarus foot.
* Foot abnormalities: increased foot pronation, midtarsal joint laxity, forefoot varus, rear foot eversion, pes planus, cavovarus foot, hypertrophy of abductor hallucis from running.<ref name=":0" />


== Epidemiology ==
== Epidemiology ==
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== Clinical Features ==
== Clinical Features ==
LPN entrapment can occur along with entrapment of other local nerves and so the clinical picture can be tricky.
[[File:Plantar flexion inversion and dorsiflexion and eversion tarsal tunnel.jpg|thumb|A: Plantar-flexion inversion test. B: dorsiflexion-eversion test.<ref name=":0" />]]
LPN entrapment can occur along with entrapment of other local nerves and so the clinical picture can be tricky.<ref name=":0" />


=== History ===
=== History ===
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=== Examination ===
=== Examination ===
Motor deficit is rare.
There may be tenderness and paraesthesias when the [[Abductor Hallucis|abductor hallucis]] is palpated. Tinel's sign may be positive at the proximal and distal tarsal tunnel. Symptoms may be reproduced by tensing the abductor hallucis. Motor deficit is rare.
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'''Plantar Flexion-Inversion Test:''' The foot is plantar flexed and inverted with pressure applied under the abductor hallucis.
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'''Dorsiflexion-Eversion Test:''' Pressure over the proximal tarsal tunnel. This compresses the [[Lateral Plantar Nerve|lateral plantar nerve]], [[Inferior Calcaneal Nerve (Baxter Nerve)|inferior calcaneal nerve]], and [[Medial Plantar Nerve|medial plantar nerve]].
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== Differential Diagnosis ==
{{DDX Box|ddx-text=*[[Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome]]
*[[Lumbar Radicular Pain|S1 radicular pain]]
*[[Plantar Fasciitis]]
*[[Fat Pad Atrophy]]
*Neuroma|ddx-title=Differential Diagnosis of Lateral Foot Pain}}
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== Investigations ==
Obtain weight-bearing plain films to assess foot alignment and exclude fractures and osteoarthritis.
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MRI may identify denervation changes, masses, and tendon abnormalities.
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== Treatment ==
Identify and manage any factors contributing to increased foot pronation: obesity, midtarsal joint laxity, forefoot varus, rear foot eversion, pes planus, cavovarus foot, etc. Orthotics may be helpful. Stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon may reduce stress on the soft tissues. Weight loss and physical therapy to strengthen the intrinsic muscles to reduce hyperpronation.<ref name=":0" />
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Injection of the lateral plantar nerve can be diagnostic and therapeutic.


== References ==
== References ==
{{References}}
{{References}}
{{Reliable sources}}
{{Reliable sources}}

Revision as of 19:32, 16 April 2022


Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment
Clinical Features Lateral foot neuropathic pain with weightbearing. Tenderness over the medial calcaneal tubercle.
Tests Diagnostic injection, ultrasound, MRI, plain films.

Anatomy

The sciatic nerve runs down the leg and divides into the common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve near the popliteal fossa. At the ankle the tibial nerve is often called the posterior tibial nerve even though it is not a separate branch.

The posterior tibial nerve courses down the foot through the tarsal tunnel and ramifies into the lateral plantar nerve, medial plantar nerve, and the medial calcaneal nerve. There are independent medial and lateral plantar tunnels separated by the medial septum between the medial calcaneus and the deep fascia of the abductor hallucis.[1]

Aetiology

  • Trauma/surgery: failed tarsal tunnel release, harvest of flexor hallucis longus tendon (but medial plantar nerve injury is more likely)
  • Lesions: Neurilemmoma, pseudoganglion.
  • Foot abnormalities: increased foot pronation, midtarsal joint laxity, forefoot varus, rear foot eversion, pes planus, cavovarus foot, hypertrophy of abductor hallucis from running.[1]

Epidemiology

It is less common than entrapment of its first branch, Baxter's nerve (inferior calcaneal nerve).

Clinical Features

A: Plantar-flexion inversion test. B: dorsiflexion-eversion test.[1]

LPN entrapment can occur along with entrapment of other local nerves and so the clinical picture can be tricky.[1]

History

Patients have burning pain, paraesthesias, and numbness involving the lateral side of the sole and lateral toes. Symptoms are typically worse with weight-bearing activities and improve with rest. However symptoms can occur at rest.

Examination

There may be tenderness and paraesthesias when the abductor hallucis is palpated. Tinel's sign may be positive at the proximal and distal tarsal tunnel. Symptoms may be reproduced by tensing the abductor hallucis. Motor deficit is rare.

Plantar Flexion-Inversion Test: The foot is plantar flexed and inverted with pressure applied under the abductor hallucis.

Dorsiflexion-Eversion Test: Pressure over the proximal tarsal tunnel. This compresses the lateral plantar nerve, inferior calcaneal nerve, and medial plantar nerve.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis of Lateral Foot Pain

Investigations

Obtain weight-bearing plain films to assess foot alignment and exclude fractures and osteoarthritis.

MRI may identify denervation changes, masses, and tendon abnormalities.

Treatment

Identify and manage any factors contributing to increased foot pronation: obesity, midtarsal joint laxity, forefoot varus, rear foot eversion, pes planus, cavovarus foot, etc. Orthotics may be helpful. Stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon may reduce stress on the soft tissues. Weight loss and physical therapy to strengthen the intrinsic muscles to reduce hyperpronation.[1]

Injection of the lateral plantar nerve can be diagnostic and therapeutic.

References

  1. ā†‘ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Brown, Michael N.; Pearce, Beth S.; Vanetti, Thais Khouri; Trescot, Andrea M.; Karl, Helen W. (2016). Trescot, Andrea M. (ed.). "Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment" (in English). Cham: Springer International Publishing: 833ā€“844. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-27482-9_74. ISBN 978-3-319-27480-5. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Literature Review