Superficial Peroneal Nerve to Deep Peroneal Nerve Transfer With Allograft Conduit for Neuroma in Continuity

The anterior approach to the ankle for surgery can result in injury to the superficial peroneal nerve, resulting in a painful neuroma and significant patient morbidity. A paucity of data is available evaluating the role of the superficial peroneal nerve to deep peroneal nerve transfer as a method of treatment of neuromas in continuity after ankle arthrodesis. We describe 11 patients who underwent nerve transfer with nerve allograft and conduit repair to treat recalcitrant painful neuromas after ankle arthrodesis. At a mean follow-up period of 31 months, the mean visual analog pain scale score had improved from 7.9 preoperatively to 2.45 postoperatively (p < .0001). These data suggest that nerve transfer with a nerve allograft can provide significant clinical improvement for painful neuromas of the peripheral nerves at the ankle.