Foot Drop eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Foot drop is a deceptively simple name for a potentially complex problem. Foot drop can be associated with a variety of conditions such as dorsiflexor injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, stroke, neuropathies, drug toxicities, or diabetes. The causes of foot drop may be divided into 3 general categories: neurologic, muscular, and anatomic. These causes may overlap. Treatment is variable and is directed at the specific cause.
Synonyms and related keywords: drop foot, steppage gait, equinovarus deformity, dorsiflexor injuries, peripheral nerve injuries, stroke, neuropathies, drug toxicities, diabetes, peroneal neuropathy, peroneal nerve palsy, total knee arthroplasty, proximal tibial osteotomy, hip arthroplasty, rupture of tibialis anterior tendon, compartment syndromes, March gangrene, anterior compartment syndrome, deep posterior compartment syndrome, lumbosacral plexopathy, lumbar radiculopathy, motor neuron disease, parasagittal cortical lesions, subcortical cerebral lesions, Charcot foot, degenerative rupture of tibialis anterior muscle, chronic compartment syndrome, leprosy neuritis
Pritchett and Porembski 2006 Updated: Jun 23, 2009