What nerve is at risk with a fibular neck fracture, potentially causing foot drop?

What nerve is at risk with a fibular neck fracture, potentially causing foot drop?

• A. Common peroneal (fibular) nerve
• B. Deep peroneal nerve
• C. Tibial nerve
• D. Sural nerve

Answer: (A)

A fibular neck fracture puts the common peroneal nerve at risk because it passes right around the neck of the fibula, where it is superficial and vulnerable to trauma. This nerve travels and then divides into the deep and superficial branches; the deep peroneal nerve, which runs in the anterior compartment, controls dorsiflexion of the foot and toe extension. If the common peroneal nerve is injured near the fibular neck, dorsiflexion can be lost, producing foot drop. The tibial nerve or sural nerve aren’t primarily involved in this motor function, and injury to the deep peroneal nerve alone would still be tied to a lesion of the common peroneal before its split in this context.

A fibular neck fracture puts the common peroneal nerve at risk because it passes right around the neck of the fibula, where it is superficial and vulnerable to trauma. This nerve travels and then divides into the deep and superficial branches; the deep peroneal nerve, which runs in the anterior compartment, controls dorsiflexion of the foot and toe extension. If the common peroneal nerve is injured near the fibular neck, dorsiflexion can be lost, producing foot drop. The tibial nerve or sural nerve aren’t primarily involved in this motor function, and injury to the deep peroneal nerve alone would still be tied to a lesion of the common peroneal before its split in this context.