Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Nov;14(6):526-533.
doi: 10.1370/afm.1973.

Subclinical Peroneal Neuropathy: A Common, Unrecognized, and Preventable Finding Associated With a Recent History of Falling in Hospitalized Patients

Louis H Poppler  1 , Andrew P Groves  2 , Gina Sacks  2 , Anchal Bansal  2 , Kristen M Davidge  3 , Jenifer A Sledge  4 , Heidi Tymkew  4 , Yan Yan  5 , Jessica M Hasak  5 , Patricia Potter  4 , Susan E Mackinnon  6
Affiliations

Subclinical Peroneal Neuropathy: A Common, Unrecognized, and Preventable Finding Associated With a Recent History of Falling in Hospitalized Patients

Louis H Poppler et al. Ann Fam Med. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose: Identification of modifiable risk factors for falling is paramount in reducing the incidence and morbidity of falling. Peroneal neuropathy with an overt foot drop is a known risk factor for falling, but research into subclinical peroneal neuropathy (SCPN) resulting from compression at the fibular head is lacking. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of SCPN in hospitalized patients and establish whether it is associated with a recent history of falling.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 medical inpatients at a large academic tertiary care hospital in St Louis, Missouri. General medical inpatients deemed at moderate to high risk for falling were enrolled in the summer of 2013. Patients were examined for findings that suggest peroneal neuropathy, fall risk, and a history of falling. Multivariate logistic regression was used to correlate SCPN with fall risk and a history of falls in the past year.

Results: The mean patient age was 53 years (SD = 13 years), and 59 patients (59%) were female. Thirty-one patients had examination findings consistent with SCPN. After accounting for various confounding variables within a multivariate logistic regression model, patients with SCPN were 4.7 times (95% CI, 1.4-15.9) more likely to report having fallen 1 or more times in the past year.

Conclusions: Subclinical peroneal neuropathy is common in medical inpatients and is associated with a recent history of falling. Preventing or identifying SCPN in hospitalized patients provides an opportunity to modify activity and therapy, potentially reducing risk.

Keywords: accidental; common peroneal; falls; nerve compression syndromes; neuropathy; peroneal nerve diseases; peroneal nerve paralysis; preventive medicine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design and patient enrollment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Brandis S. A collaborative occupational therapy and nursing approach to falls prevention in hospital inpatients. J Qual Clin Pract. 1999; 19(4): 215–220. - PubMed
    1. Oliver D, Healey F, Haines TP. Preventing falls and fall-related injuries in hospitals. Clin Geriatr Med. 2010; 26(4): 645–692. - PubMed
    1. Ellis AA, Trent RB. Do the risks and consequences of hospitalized fall injuries among older adults in California vary by type of fall? J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001; 56(11): M686–M692. - PubMed
    1. Bouche P. Compression and entrapment neuropathies. In: Gérard S, Christian K, eds. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier; 2013: 311–66. - PubMed
    1. Craig A. Entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity. PM R. 2013; 5(5)(Suppl): S31–S40. - PubMed

Publication types