# Two Cases of Pediatric Common Peroneal Nerve Palsy Associated With Intermittent Pneumatic Compression

## TL;DR

This paper reports two rare cases of nerve damage in children linked to a medical device used to prevent blood clots.

## Contribution

The paper presents the first reported cases of common peroneal nerve palsy in children due to intermittent pneumatic compression.

## Key findings

- Two pediatric cases of common peroneal nerve palsy were associated with intermittent pneumatic compression.
- Proper sizing and positioning of IPC devices are critical to avoid nerve compression.
- Risk factors like body position and thinness may contribute to nerve palsy in children.

## Abstract

Common peroneal nerve palsy occurs as a result of compression of the fibular head and has been reported in adults as a complication of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC), but not in children. In this report, we present two cases of common peroneal nerve palsy. The first occurred in a 13-year-old girl with sepsis and the second in a 12-year-old boy who underwent vocal cord fixation. In both cases, we suspected the involvement of the IPC performed to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) during pediatric intensive care unit admission. It is crucial to ensure proper sizing and fitting of the IPC devices to avoid covering the fibular head and apply appropriate decompression. Moreover, recognizing risk factors, such as body position and thinness, is essential for understanding the onset of common peroneal nerve palsy.