Idiopathic entrapment of the lateral popliteal nerve

Five patients with idiopathic entrapment of the lateral popliteal nerve are presented. Three of them underwent electrophysiological examination and had delayed conduction in the lateral popliteal nerve. All the patients were operated upon for release of the nerve at the level of the neck of the fibula, with immediate postoperative relief. This entity is an important differential diagnosis for disc lesion with root entrapment