Bilateral peroneal nerve palsy induced by prolonged squatting.

External or internal pressures on peripheral nerves may result in compression neuropathies. Although compressive common peroneal nerve palsy is well known, to date very few cases with bilateral palsies have been reported. The clinical and electrophysiological manifestations of three patients with bilateral peroneal nerve palsies are reported, and their clinical outcomes are discussed. The first patient's transient bilateral palsy was corrected by conservative means. The second patient, with a more severe axonal lesion, did not improve within 3 months, and nearly complete recovery occurred after operative decompression. For the third patient, who had been suffering for a long time, no improvement could be hoped for. Prolonged squatting was the etiological factor in all three cases. Bilateral compression neuropathies of the peroneal nerve, like unilateral lesions, may recover spontaneously. Surgical intervention is recommended for patients with predominantly axonal lesions and for those who do not improve within 3 months.