Neuroma of the sural nerve as a complication of stripping of the small saphenous vein.
BACKGROUND
Two cases of neuroma of the sural nerve after stripping of the small saphenous vein are reported.


METHODS
This 39-year-old woman and this 52-year-old man complained of paresthesia and burning pain, which worsened with walking, in the area of the sural nerve, about 1 month after saphenectomy of the small saphenous vein.


RESULTS
Exploratory surgery in both cases led to the identification of the spindle neuroma-in-continuity of the sural nerve confirmed histologically. The nerve was sectioned and the proximal stump implanted under the deep fascia. This resulted in complete remission of the symptoms in one case, and partial in the other.


CONCLUSIONS
It is likely that the nerve was lacerated during stripping, as a process of periphlebitis might cause adhesion of the vein to the nerve, and then the spindle neuroma developed. The authors underline the necessity of including neuroma of the sural nerve among the possible, albeit rare, complications of stripping of the small saphenous vein.
Mondelli
M
M
EMG Service USL 7, Siena, Italy.
Reale
F
F
Cavallaro
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009463:Neuroma / Q000209:etiology*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D013497:Sural Nerve