Diagnosis and Management of Mononeuropathies

Abstract

Disability and pain may result from dysfunction of a single peripheral nerve. Seemingly innocent postures or activities may produce alarmingly severe disability. Mononeuropathy therefore often goes unrecognized as well as untreated. When the cause is not recognized, extensive and expensive treatment often is directed to the wrong region and is unrewarding to both patient and physician. Mononeuropathy also may be the presenting symptom of systemic illness. Thus, in a patient with mononeuropathy one must consider the possibility of some general factor which makes the peripheral nerves more sensitive to trauma.