Journal of Clinical Medicine
Association Between Ultrasonographic Evidence of Nerve Entrapment and Pain Outcomes After Nerve Decompression in Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
By Ze Zhang, Qi Wang, Zhenxuan Gao and 8 others.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate whether preoperative ultrasonographic evidence of nerve entrapment is associated with pain relief after lower-limb peripheral nerve decompression in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN).
Methods
This single-center retrospective cohort study included 110 consecutive patients with PDPN who underwent bilateral lower-limb peripheral nerve decompression between February 2023 and June 2024. After three patients were lost to follow-up, 107 were analyzed. Preoperative ultrasonography assessed the bilateral common peroneal and tibial nerves. Patients were classified as ultrasound-positive if at least one examined nerve met the specified focal entrapment criteria and as ultrasound-negative otherwise. Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were recorded preoperatively and at 7 days, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. A ≥50% reduction in NRS score at 12 months was defined as pain response. Analysis of covariance and multivariable logistic regression were performed.