Usefulness of high-resolution ultrasonography on iatrogenic peripheral neuropathy

초록

Varicose vein surgery is frequently associated with iatrogenic peripheral nerve damage. Because perineurium-epineurium damage can lead to slow regeneration and permanent sequlae, the distinction between ischemic type injury and direct epineurial-perineurial injury is important in the prediction of prognosis and the decision of treatment. High resolution MRI and electrophysiologic study have been used to identify the neuropathologic change. If surgical treatment of peripheral nerve injury is needed, localization of damaged nerve region can be directly confirmed through operation. Although the ultrasound with 10-15 MHz resolution has detected the site of injured lesion, it has been difficult to identify detailed structure of damaged nerve. We report a case of iatrogenic common peroneal and tibial nerve injury after small saphenous varicose vein surgery without obvious epineurium and surrounding tissue damage in the peripheral nerve injury through high resolution ultrasound.