Bilateral peroneal nerve palsy caused by intermittent pneumatic compression.

A 63-year-old man developed bilateral peroneal nerve palsies after a craniotomy for a craniopharyngioma. It is believed that the primary etiology of the nerve palsies was intermittent pneumatic compression, which was used to prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism during the surgery. Physicians should take care to avoid compressing the fibula head when using pneumatic devices.