34-1 Microneurosurgery

Peripheral nerve pathology can often be perplexing and go undiagnosed. These patients may have a sudden onset of symptoms after a new exercise routine, motor vehicle collision, history of trauma or a prior surgery. Neuropathic symptoms are debilitating to patients, affecting their activities of daily living and quality of life. Patients are looking for answers to the cause of their pain and the treatment options available to them. Consults to other services are often necessary to determine the etiology of the pain. A multidisciplinary, interprofessional approach is needed in order to ensure that the provider has all the pertinent information required to address the peripheral nerve injury. The condensations and commentaries within this issue take a close look at some of the cutting-edge surgical options currently available.

Podiatric literature has historically focused on orthopedic pathology, in which patients have an abundance of musculoskeletal abnormalities. As a result, the peripheral nerve and plastic surgery literature does not have as large of a presence within the podiatric journals, although patients can have concomitant orthopedic and lower extremity peripheral nerve pathology diagnoses.

I am honored to be the Guest Editor for this issue of Foot and Ankle Quarterly on Microneurosurgery, and am immensely grateful for the support from the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Stephanie Wu and my colleagues at the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, for contributing their time and input to this important subject. Our goal is to bring awareness to lower extremity peripheral nerve pathology, tips and pearls to clinically assess, identify and address a peripheral nerve injury, and to introduce knowledge of the surgical options available.

Lauren L. Schnack, DPM, MS, AACFAS, FACPM