Common peroneal nerve palsy is one of the most frequently encountered nerve injuries. The reason for this is the superficial portion of the nerve as it curves around the head of the fibula where it is subject to direct trauma, pressure, or other injuries.

In acute stages, when clinical paralysis appears to be complete, electrophysiologic studies are a useful guide to prognosis. They may also indicate an underlying neuropathy and detect early evidence of recovery.

A retrospective analysis of 37 consecutive cases of peroneal nerve palsy seem from January 1985 to July 1987 in the department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Catholic Medical College was carried out. Of the 65 patients. They were selected group confirmed to have peroneal nerve palsy by clinical findings and electrodiagnostic study.

The results of these studies were as follows.

1) The second and the third decades were involved most frequently and the males were most prevalent than the females with the ratio of 6:1.

2) The more frequent site of the lesions was the common peroneal nerve.(81.1%)

3) For the cause of lesions, the fracture was most common.(40.5%) And the other causes are unknown, compression, Laceration, burn, etc.

4) On motor conduction study of common peroneal nerve, 23(62.3%) of the all cases showed abnormalities, 19(5.4%) cases of them showed no conduction, and 4(10.8%) of them showed slowing of conduction or delayed distal latencies.

On needle EMG, all cases showed spontaneus activity in deep peroneal nerve innervated muscles.

Keywords :Electromyography, Peroneal nerve palsy, Nerve conduction study, Common peroneal nerve