• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Tibial nerve dysfunction

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Tibial nerve dysfunction is a loss of movement or sensation in the lower leg, caused by damage to the tibial nerve.

Alternative Names:

Neuropathy - tibial nerve

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Tibial nerve dysfunction is a form of peripheral neuropathy . It occurs when there is damage to the tibial nerve, one of the branches of the sciatic nerve of the leg. The tibial nerve supplies movement and sensation to the calf and foot muscles.

Dysfunction of a single nerve group, such as the tibial nerve, is classified as mononeuropathy . Mononeuropathy implies a local cause of the nerve damage, although occasionally systemic disorders may cause isolated nerve damage (such as occurs with mononeuritis multiplex ).

The usual causes are direct trauma, prolonged pressure on the nerve, and compression of the nerve from nearby body structures. Entrapment involves pressure on the nerve where it passes through a narrow structure.

The damage may include destruction of the myelin sheath of the nerve or destruction of part of the nerve cell (the axon). Damage to the axon slows or prevents conduction of impulses through the nerve.

The tibial nerve is commonly injured by fractures or other injury to the back of the knee or the lower leg. It may be affected by systemic diseases causing polyneuropathy (damage to multiple nerves) such as diabetes or polyarteritis nodosa . It may be damaged by pressure from lesions such as tumor, abscess, or bleeding into the knee.

In some cases, no detectable cause can be identified. The mechanical factors may be complicated by ischemia (lack of oxygen from decreased blood flow) in the area.

• Review Date: 3/20/2007
• Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.