[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Conditions](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/) › Common Fibular (Peroneal) Nerve Injury

[Conditions](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/) · [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/)

# Common Fibular (Peroneal) Nerve Injury

[Common fibular nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/common-fibular-nerve/) injury is damage to the nerve wrapping around the outer knee near the [fibula](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/fibula/); it causes foot drop and numbness on top of the foot.

Updated 2026-10-23

## Structures involved

Tap one to see what it is and open it in 3D.

- [Common fibular nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/common-fibular-nerve/)
- [Fibula](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/fibula/)
- [Deep fibular nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/deep-fibular-nerve/)
- [Superficial fibular nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/superficial-fibular-nerve/)

## Why it happens

- [Peripheral nerve: endoneurium, perineurium, epineurium; myelin](https://durgical.com/en/histology/peripheral-nerve-endoneurium-perineurium-epineurium-myelin/)
- [Nerve injury and regeneration (Wallerian degeneration)](https://durgical.com/en/histology/nerve-injury-and-regeneration/)

## What it is

Injury to the common fibular nerve as it wraps around the fibular neck, causing foot drop.

## Causes

- Compression at the fibular neck
- Trauma or stretch
- Prolonged leg crossing or tight casts

## Symptoms and signs

- Foot drop (inability to dorsiflex)
- Numbness on the dorsum of the foot
- Weak eversion

## Diagnosis

**Clinical**
Exam and history of compression or trauma

**Tests**
Nerve conduction studies if needed

**Imaging**
MRI or ultrasound at the fibular neck

## Treatment

**Conservative**
Remove the source of compression, ankle-foot orthosis, and physical therapy.

**Surgical**
Exploration or decompression if no recovery or structural cause.

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: [Peroneal Nerve Injury](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549859/) (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/conditions/common-fibular-nerve-injury/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/conditions/common-fibular-nerve-injury/