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Findings link preoperative VAS scores, BMI with outcomes of superficial peroneal nerve release
Most patients with a preoperative VAS pain score of greater than 60 reported less pain following decompression of the superficial peroneal nerve, according to recently published data.
Researchers also found, “A higher BMI was associated with less improvement in the effect of pain on [quality of life] QoL. This information can be useful when counseling patients on treatment options,” they wrote in their study.
Researchers retrospectively evaluated results of 54 patients who underwent decompression of the superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) for pain. Preoperatively and postoperatively patients assessed their baseline pain and how pain affected their QoL using the VAS. The impact of preoperative effect of pain on QoL, age, BMI and preoperative pain duration on the postoperative effective of pain of QoL was evaluated using multivariate linear regression. Investigators noted before decompression was performed, the average symptom duration was 26.5 months. Patients were followed for an average of 4.3 months. To determine landmarks to identify the SPN, investigators also collected intraoperative measurements from 13 patients.
Researchers found a higher BMI negatively influenced the postoperative impact of pain on QoL.
According to researchers, the mean improvement in pain for patients with a preoperative VAS score of less than or equal to 60 was significantly different compared with patients with a preoperative VAS pain score of greater than 60. Investigators found seven of the 16 patients with lower preoperative VAS scores noted less pain after the procedure, while 30 of the 36 patients with higher preoperative VAS scores reported less pain.
“Intraoperative measurements demonstrated that the SPN was consistently found to be 5 ± 1.1 [cm], 5 ± 1.1 [cm], and 6 ± 1.2 cm lateral to the tibia at 10 [cm], 15 [cm], and 20 cm proximal to the lateral malleolus, respectively,” the researchers wrote. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.