Paralysis of external popliteal nerve (DC 8521)

Rating levels

• 40% — You have complete paralysis of the nerve that controls lifting your foot and toes upward, causing your foot to drop down and drag when you walk (foot drop). You cannot lift your foot up toward your shin, cannot extend your toes upward, and have lost the ability to move your foot outward while inward movement is severely weakened. The entire top of your foot and all your toes have no feeling or sensation (numbness).
• 30% — The nerve damage is incomplete but severe, meaning the external popliteal nerve (the nerve that controls muscles in your lower leg and foot) is significantly damaged but not completely destroyed. You would have major difficulty lifting your foot up toward your shin (foot drop), weakness in turning your foot outward, and likely some numbness or tingling on the top of your foot and lower leg. While you retain some nerve function, the damage seriously affects your ability to walk normally and control foot movement.
• 20% — You have partial damage to the external popliteal nerve (the nerve that controls muscles in your lower leg and foot), causing moderate problems with movement and sensation. This level means you experience noticeable difficulty lifting your foot up toward your shin (foot drop), some weakness in turning your foot outward, and numbness or tingling on the top of your foot and outer part of your lower leg, but you still have some muscle function remaining.
• 10% — You have mild damage to the common peroneal nerve (the nerve that controls muscles in your lower leg and foot), but the nerve still works partially. This might cause some weakness when lifting your foot up or slight numbness on the top of your foot, but you can still walk normally and perform most daily activities without significant problems.