What nerve is affected if someone presents with foot drop and decreased sensation over the dorsum of their foot?

Answer 1

The answer to this question depends on the rest of the physical exam. You could either have a personal nerve issue or an L5 root problem.

One way to figure it out is to determine if ankle eversion remains intact. If they are weak, then the process likely involves the common peroneal nerve.

NB- someone presenting with painless bilateral foot drop may have a para sagittal meningioma. isolated superficial peroneal involvement doesn't cause for drop while isolated deep peroneal nerve involvement causes paresthesia of the first web space but not the dorsal foot.