title: Compressive neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve at the lower calf caused by a ruptured intramuscular baker cyst.
abstract: Baker cyst is an enlargement of the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa. Neuropathy can occur due to either direct compression from the cyst itself or indirectly after cyst rupture. We report a unique case of a 49-year-old man with left sole pain and paresthesia who was diagnosed with posterior tibial neuropathy at the lower calf area, which was found to be caused by a ruptured Baker cyst. The patient's symptoms resembled those of lumbosacral radiculopathy and tarsal tunnel syndrome. Posterior tibial neuropathy from direct pressure of ruptured Baker cyst at the calf level has not been previously reported. Ruptured Baker cyst with resultant compression of the posterior tibial nerve at the lower leg should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients who complain of calf and sole pain. Electrodiagnostic examination and imaging studies such as ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in the differential diagnosis of isolated paresthesia of the lower leg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seock Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Geun-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Hye-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yil Ryun
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Jo
keywords: Nerve compression syndromes; Popliteal cyst; Tibial neuropathy
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