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Tucson Neuropathy Institute

• Laser Phototherapy, a New Modality in treatment of Long-Term Incomplete Peripheral Nerve Injury: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study
• Double-blind Randomized Study Evaluating Regeneration of the Rat Transected Sciatic Nerve after Suturing and Postoperative Low-Power Laser Treatment
• Documentation of posttraumatic nerve compression in patients with normal electrodiagnostic studies.

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Surgical Decompression in Lower-Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Andrew J. Rader, DPM

Peripheral neuropathy can be a devastating complication of diabetes mellitus. This article describes surgical decompression as a means of restoring sensation and relieving painful neuropathy symptoms. A prospective study was performed involving patients diagnosed as having type 1 or type 2 diabetes with lower-extremity peripheral neuropathy. The neuropathy diagnosis was confirmed using quantitative sensory testing. Visual analog scales were used for subjective assessment before and after surgery. Treatment consisted of external and as-needed internal neurolysis of the common peroneal, deep peroneal, tibial, medial plantar, lateral plantar, and calcaneal nerves. Subjective pain perception and objective sensibility were significantly improved in most patients who underwent the described decompression. Surgical decompression of multiple peripheral nerves in the lower extremities is a valid and effective method of providing symptomatic relief of neuropathy pain and restoring sensation.

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(5): 446–450, 2005)