Foot drop

Question 1

Define foot drop

Answer 1

Front of the patients foot drags on the ground as they walk, most commonly caused by peroneal nerve compression

Question 2

What are causes of foot drop?

Answer 2

→ Nerve injury - e.g knee injury can cause compression of the peroneal nerve, can also be injured during hip or knee replacement surgery
→ Muscle or nerve disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness - e.g Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
→ Brain and spinal cord disorders - Stroke/MS/ALS
→ tumour/cyst/bone lesions pressing on peroneal nerve

Question 3

What are signs and symptoms of foot drop?

Answer 3

→ Difficulty lifting the front part of the foot, foot drag on the floor when pt walks
→ steppage gait - pt raises thigh more than usual when walking as though climbing stairs
→ numbness of the top of foot and toes can occur
→ can affect one or both feet

Question 4

What investigations do you do for foot drop?

Answer 4

→ Imaging - X-rays/ultrasound/CT/MRI
→ nerve conduction studies

Question 5

How do you treat foot drop?

Answer 5

→ Braces or splints
→ physical therapy
→ nerve stimulation
→ Surgery