title: Technique of the sural nerve biopsy.
abstract: A sural nerve biopsy may be useful to enable the clinician to diagnose the etiology and underlying pathology of patients presenting with symptoms of a peripheral neuropathy, when no clear underlying cause has been determined with conventional assessment such as electrophysiology or quantitative sensory testing. Given the prevalence of lower extremity neurological pathology, it is surprising that few descriptions in the peer-reviewed medical literature exist on the rationale and technique for biopsy of the sural nerve. We review the usefulness of this procedure, describe the technique, and discuss the potential complications.
authors.affiliation: Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR), Department of Surgery, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: Lee C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Rayaz A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology*