RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Subclinical Peroneal Neuropathy: A Common, Unrecognized, and Preventable Finding Associated With a Recent History of Falling in Hospitalized Patients
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 526
OP 533
DO 10.1370/afm.1973
VO 14
IS 6
A1 Louis H. Poppler
A1 Andrew P. Groves
A1 Gina Sacks
A1 Anchal Bansal
A1 Kristen M. Davidge
A1 Jenifer A. Sledge
A1 Heidi Tymkew
A1 Yan Yan
A1 Jessica M. Hasak
A1 Patricia Potter
A1 Susan E. Mackinnon
YR 2016
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/14/6/526.abstract
AB PURPOSE Identification of modifiable risk factors for falling is paramount in reducing the incidence and morbidity of falling. Peroneal neuropathy with an overt foot drop is a known risk factor for falling, but research into subclinical peroneal neuropathy (SCPN) resulting from compression at the fibular head is lacking. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of SCPN in hospitalized patients and establish whether it is associated with a recent history of falling.METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 100 medical inpatients at a large academic tertiary care hospital in St Louis, Missouri. General medical inpatients deemed at moderate to high risk for falling were enrolled in the summer of 2013. Patients were examined for findings that suggest peroneal neuropathy, fall risk, and a history of falling. Multivariate logistic regression was used to correlate SCPN with fall risk and a history of falls in the past year.RESULTS The mean patient age was 53 years (SD = 13 years), and 59 patients (59%) were female. Thirty-one patients had examination findings consistent with SCPN. After accounting for various confounding variables within a multivariate logistic regression model, patients with SCPN were 4.7 times (95% CI, 1.4–15.9) more likely to report having fallen 1 or more times in the past year.CONCLUSIONS Subclinical peroneal neuropathy is common in medical inpatients and is associated with a recent history of falling. Preventing or identifying SCPN in hospitalized patients provides an opportunity to modify activity and therapy, potentially reducing risk.