Electrophysiological study of accessory deep peroneal nerve in a sample of Egyptian subjects

Abstract

Introduction Accessory deep peroneal nerve (ADPN) is the most common anomalous innervation present in the lower limb. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ADPN electrophysiologically in a sample of healthy Egyptian individuals. Subjects and methods This cross-sectional study included 200 lower limbs from 100 [56 (56%) women and 44 (44%) men] Egyptian apparently healthy volunteers. Motor nerve conduction studies for the peroneal nerve and ADPN were done. Results ADPN was found in 20 (10%) lower limbs of 17 (17%) subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the occurrence of ADPN in women versus men (P=0.797). ADPN was found in 11 (55%) right lower limbs and in nine (45%) left lower limbs. There was no statistically significant difference between the occurrence of ADPN in right lower limbs versus left lower limbs among subjects with ADPN (P=0.637). It was present bilaterally in three (17.65%) subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the occurrence of bilateral ADPN in women versus men (P=0.761). Among the 14 (82.35%) subjects with unilateral ADPN, it was present in the right side in eight (57.14%) subjects. There was no statistically significant difference between the occurrence of unilateral ADPN in the right side versus left side (P=0.579). Conclusion This study demonstrated that ADPN prevalence in the referred Egyptian sample through electrodiagnostic studies of lower limbs was 17%, with no sex nor side difference. Recognition of ADPN is essential for proper interpretation of lower limbs electrophysiological data.

Keywords

• accessory deep peroneal nerve
• anomalous innervations
• Egyptian population