Nerve Entrapment and Compression Syndromes and Other Mononeuropathies

Abstract

Mononeuropathies are perhaps the most common abnormality of the nervous system; indeed everyone has experienced transient paraesthesiae from minor injury to the ulnar nerve at the elbow, or to the common peroneal nerve at the lateral aspect of the knee. More severe injury, or more prolonged compression or entrapment of nerves will lead, however, to more pronounced and less transient sensory disturbance and weakness in the distribution of the affected nerve. The various causative factors are listed in Table 8.1. By far the most common causes of mononeuropathy are entrapment and compression syndromes.