title: Prognosis and prognostic factors in non-traumatic acute-onset compressive mononeuropathies--radial and peroneal mononeuropathies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about the natural history of non-traumatic compressive mononeuropathies. To improve patient management, prognostic factors and outcome in patients with non-traumatic peroneal and radial mononeuropathies were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical, electrophysiological and sonographic data of patients with non-traumatic peroneal and radial mononeuropathies were evaluated. Clinical, electrophysiological and sonographic evaluations had to take place 2-12 weeks after symptom onset and follow-up had to be for >6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients with peroneal mononeuropathy and 58 with radial mononeuropathy were included. Mean follow-up was 8.9 ± 2.4 months. Approximately 90% of patients recovered to a muscle strength of British Medical Research Council grade 4 or 5. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed conduction block on nerve conduction studies, younger age and less severe initial weakness as indicators for a good prognosis. Peripheral nerve ultrasound was not prognostic in the 40 patients where it was available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows a good prognosis for spontaneous recovery after non-traumatic acute-onset compressive peroneal and radial mononeuropathies. Patients with denervation on needle electromyography, older age and severe initial weakness have a poorer prognosis and should be closely monitored to facilitate timely surgery whenever weakness persists. Peripheral nerve ultrasound seems to be of limited prognostic value in these mononeuropathies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bsteh
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Wanschitz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seppi
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Löscher
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020422:Mononeuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D020427:Peroneal Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D020425:Radial Neuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies