Professional origin of a lateral popliteal sciatic nerve palsy: A case report

Introduction. Lateral popliteal sciatic nerve palsy remains an unfrequent pathology whose professional origin is rarely evoked. Palsy mechanism is often related to a compression of the nerve when it winds around the neck of the fibula leading to a motor deficit with sometimes a limited sensory deficit. Case report. We report a case of lateral popliteal sciatic nerve palsy which occurred in a 28 year-old man, working as an automobile electrician at the warning system assembly station. He had worked in prolonged squatting position for seven years. The patient has had experienced since three years increasing heaviness of the lower right limb leading to limping and to frequent falls. Physical examination noted a motor deficit interesting the muscles of the antero-external compartment of the right leg without sensory deficit. Diagnosis confirmation was obtained thanks to the electromyogram that objectified reduced motor potential amplitude of the right lateral popliteal sciatic nerve with decreased nervea conduction velocity across the fibula neck. The occupational disease was recognized according to table no. 82 (gestures and postures). A moderate transientory improvement. was obtained after surgery and physiotherapy. The ergonomic installation of the working station remains the important prevention factor. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.