Outcomes of Surgical Decompression of Common Peroneal Nerve in Management of Foot Drop in Slimmer's Palsy

‎ Abstract:‎ Background: several methods of weight reduction appeared in the past few decades ‎either surgical or non-surgical techniques, many of them resulting in unplanned ‎rapid weight reduction with loss of fat cushion around common peroneal nerve ‎‎(CPN) resulting in foot drop (Slimmer’s palsy). The current study evaluated the ‎clinical outcome after CPN decompression for Slimmer’s palsy. Methods: This study ‎was conducted on seven patients (9 legs), (2 males & 5 females) with foot drop after ‎rapid weight reduction attended to the Orthopedics and Traumatology department ‎from 2021 to 2023. Seven patients with foot drop following rapid weight loss were ‎confirmed by a nerve conduction study, and there were no local causes on the knee ‎X-ray. Results: Following surgical decompression ankle, toes dorsiflexion and foot ‎eversion were improved together with improvement of nerve conduction in ‎electrophysiological data. Conclusion: Although it is rare, loss of the fat cushion ‎around the nerve results in conduction deficit. Surgical decompression improves ‎nerve conduction and correct foot drop.‎