Unilateral Foot Drop Caused by Prolonged Squatting among Farmers Harvesting Potatoes in Bolu

Background: We evaluated the clinical characteristics, follow-up, and treatment outcomes of peroneal neuropathy, which is frequently observed in agricultural workers who work in a squatting position. Methods: The study included 21 patients diagnosed with peroneal neuropathy who had worked in a squatting position and presented to the orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinic. After diagnosis, the patients underwent 20 sessions of standard physiotherapy and used an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). Electromyography (EMG) was used to assess the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum brevis, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius muscles and peripheral nerve conduction velocities before treatment and at the first and third months. Results: Of the patients, 12 (57.1%) were male and 9 (42.9%) were female. All patients had unilateral (13 right, 8 left) foot-drop. Pre-treatment EMG showed decreased proximal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in 13 patients (61.9%). The physiotherapy program and AFO use increased nerve conduction (p<0.05). At the third month after treatment, three patients (14.3%) had low CMAP in the peroneus longus muscle, showing fibrillation and positive sharp wave patterns. Surgical treatment was recommended for these patients. Conclusion: Peroneal nerve injury, which may cause foot drop, occurs in agricultural workers who work seated for long periods. Three-month clinical follow-up, medical treatment, physiotherapy, and AFO use resulted in recovery in patients with a foot drop. Surgery may be required in non-recovering patients.