Use the pattern of weakness and sensory loss to localize a peripheral nerve lesion quickly, because the recovery and imaging pathway differ by nerve. Document the lesion level and the management step it implies.

Obturator, tibial, peroneal, radial, posterior interosseous, and superficial radial nerve lesions all have classic focal patterns; High radial nerve lesions produce elbow, wrist, and finger extension weakness; Tibial nerve lesions affect plantar flexion and inversion; Common peroneal lesions cause foot drop with dorsum foot sensory loss; Posterior interosseous lesions spare wrist extension but weaken finger and thumb extension