title: Fibular nerve damage in knee dislocation: Spectrum of ultrasound patterns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At least 25% of knee dislocations are associated with common fibular nerve injury. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical and neurophysiological findings. We assessed the role of nerve ultrasound in common fibular nerve injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight consecutive patients (6 men and 2 women, mean age 34 years) with knee luxation referred to our laboratory underwent clinical, neurophysiological, and ultrasound examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients we observed a similar pattern: severe weakness (plegia or severe paresis); neurophysiological involvement of both fibular nerve branches; and ultrasound evidence of increased fibular nerve area with hypoechogenicity. On follow-up evaluation, 6 patients remained stable, and 2 patients improved. The greater the ultrasound fibular nerve enlargement, the worse the recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve ultrasound was confirmed to be a useful diagnostic/prognostic tool in traumatic nerve lesions. A prompt ultrasound examination of the fibular nerve should be considered after any case of knee dislocation.
authors.affiliation: Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coraci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Sciences NPSRR, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briani
authors.affiliation: Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedic Science, "Sapienza" University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.|Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Santilli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.|Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padua
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D031221:Knee Dislocation / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D020427:Peroneal Neuropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: fibular nerve; knee dislocation; peripheral nerve trauma; rehabilitation; ultrasound