Diagnostic Cutoff Value for Ultrasonography of the Common Fibular Neuropathy at the Fibular Head

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnostic cutoff value of ultrasonographic measurement for common fibular neuropathy (CFN) at the fibular head (FH). METHODS: Twenty patients with electrodiagnostically diagnosed CFN at the FH and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of sciatic nerve at mid-thigh level, common fibular nerve at popliteal fossa (PF), and common fibular (CF) nerve at FH were measured. Additionally, the difference of CF nerve CSA at the FH between symptomatic side and asymptomatic side (ΔSx–Asx), the ratio of CF nerve CSA at FH to at PF (FH/PF), and the ratio of CF nerve CSA at the FH symptomatic side to asymptomatic side (Ratio Sx–Asx) were calculated. RESULTS: CSA at the FH, FH/PF, ΔSx–Asx, and Ratio Sx–Asx showed significant differences between the patient and control groups. The cutoff value for diagnosing CFN at the FH was 11.7 mm(2) for the CSA at the FH (sensitivity 85.0%, specificity 90.0%), 1.70 mm(2) for the ΔSx–Asx (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 97.0%), 1.11 for the FH/PF (sensitivity 47.1%, specificity 93.3%), and 1.24 for the Ratio Sx–Asx (sensitivity 72.2%, specificity 96.7%). CONCLUSION: The ultrasonographic measurement and cutoff value could be a valuable reference in diagnosing CFN at the FH and improving diagnostic reliability and efficacy.