Vincristine Neuropathy in Children: Squatting (Sitting Cross Legged) Predisposes Common Peroneal Nerves to Be More Severely Affected than Tibial Nerves

Abstract

Objective The main objective of this article was to evaluate vincristine neuropathy effect on common peroneal and tibial nerves.

Methods A retrospective study was conducted in children with vincristine neuropathy between August 2006 and January 2016 at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

Results Twenty-eight children (15 females and 13 males) were included in the study. The compound muscle action potential of common peroneal nerves was significantly reduced relative to the tibial nerves (p < 0.05)). There was no difference in latency and nerve conduction velocity between the two nerves.

Conclusion Children receiving vincristine demonstrate severe peroneal neuropathy compared with tibial nerves. We conclude that squatting posture effects peroneal nerves and postulate that the peroneal nerves are affected more due to the squatting posture. This squatting posture stretches the nerves that are already affected by the toxic effect of vincristine.

Keywords

vincristine neuropathy - squatting - children

Note

This was a thesis project for the undergraduate student S.S.N.A.H., approved by the SQU. The thesis was submitted to the college of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2018.

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