Clinical symptoms and treatment of the foot and ankle nerve entrapment syndromes

Summary A nerve entrapment can appear in any location caused by nonspecific local lesions, haematomas, tumours, inflammations or fracture calluses. However, the course and the relationship of the foot and ankle nerves can explain the majority of the compression syndromes as the nerves are connected to fascia, bone, muscles or—most frequently—sheaths. Morphological changes in these tracts, even in the absence of external factors, can explain some of these syndromes. This is the case in osseous (peroneal tuberosity hypertrophy), muscles (flexor digitorum communis accesorius) or neural abnormalities. Foot compression pathology is manifested by a mechanical irritation of peripheral nerves that move in the fibromuscular and osseous-ligamentary tunnels. Patients often complain of sensory symptoms that in some occasions can simulate a rheumathological disorder.