Thalidomide-induced neuropathy: Treatment by decompression of peripheral nerves

The two patients described in this article represent the first and only two known patients treated for thalidomide neuropathy by this approach. Each patient had complaints of pain, numbness, and tingling in bilateral lower extremities. Both patients reported improvement in pain on the visual analogue scale and had measurable restoration of sensation to the skin surfaces supplied by the decompressed nerves. To date, there has been no recurrence of symptoms. Both patients seemed to be highly satisfied with the results of the surgery, and returned to have surgery on additional extremities.