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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2010; 14(3): 344-356
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1254523
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Imaging of Neuropathies about the Ankle and Foot

Carlo Martinoli1 , Michel Court-Payen2 , Johan Michaud3 , Luca Padua4 , 5 , Luisa Altafini1 , Alessandra Marchetti1 , Maribel Miguel Perez6 , Maura Valle7 , Claus Hovgaard2 , Micael Haugegaard2 , Alberto Tagliafico1
  • 1Cattedra di Radiologia – DISC, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
  • 2Department of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Orthopaedic Surgery, Gildhøj Private Hospital, Brøndby, Denmark
  • 3Department of Physiatry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
  • 4Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus
  • 5Department of Neurology, Policlinico “A. Gemelli,” Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
  • 6Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, Faculty of Medicine (C Bellvitge), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
  • 7Department of Radiology, Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genova, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
10 June 2010 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Neuropathies about the ankle and foot may be the cause of chronic pain and disability. In most cases, these conditions derive from mechanical or dynamic compression of a segment of a nerve within a narrow osteofibrous tunnel, an opening in a fibrous structure, or a passageway close to a ligament or a muscle. Although the evaluation of nerve disorders primarily relies on neurological examination and electrophysiology, diagnostic imaging is currently used as a complement to help define the site and etiology of nerve compression and exclude other disease possibly underlying the patient' symptoms. In this article, a review of the anatomical and pathological features of nerve entrapments in the distal lower extremity is presented on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, according to the nerve involved.

KEYWORDS

Tibial nerve - superficial peroneal nerve - deep peroneal nerve - sural nerve - plantar nerves - interdigital nerves - ankle and foot neuropathies - nerve disorders - ultrasound - magnetic resonance imaging

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Carlo MartinoliM.D. 

Cattedra di Radiologia – DISC, Università di Genova

Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, I-16132 Genova, Italy

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