Childhood peroneal neuropathy from bone tumors.

Nontraumatic childhood peroneal mononeuropathy is uncommon and should initiate a search for surgically correctable causes. In 3 children, 2 age 12 years and 1 age 13 years, unilateral footdrop developed over a few days to a month. Electrodiagnostic findings demonstrated lesions with maximal or exclusive involvement of the deep peroneal nerve. Radiologically, bony exostoses were identified at or near the fibular head in each patient. In 2 patients, the lesions were clinically occult. An osteochondroma was removed from each patient and 2 patients had excellent clinical recoveries.