Question

A 25-year-old woman with anorexia presents with a right foot drop and numbness over the dorsum of her foot. She noticed these symptoms upon rising from her desk where she had been working on a project all day. Physical examination reveals isolated weakness in dorsiflexion and eversion of the right foot and sensory loss to pinprick between the first and second toes. Deep tendon reflexes are normal. Which of the following behaviors has most likely contributed to her symptoms?

A. crossing her legs at the ankle
B. crossing her legs at the knee
C. poor back posture
D. prolonged sitting on her buttock
E. sitting on her right foot

Answer 1

Answer: the correct answer is B. crossing her legs at the knee .

Explanation: the patient presents with weakness and sensory loss in the distribution of the common peroneal nerve. This is most commonly compressed at the fibular due to the crossing at the knee. Thin individuals or those with significant weight loss are predisposed to the compressive neuropathy due to the loss of protective fat around the fibular head.