J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2011 Dec;18(4):259-262. 10.4184/jkss.2011.18.4.259.

Acute Sciatic Nerve Palsy after Sleeping in a Sitting Position: Case Report

• Ha DH
• Oh SK
• Kim YM

• KMID: 1448005
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2011.18.4.259

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: A case report.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to present the clinical manifestation and imaging findings of a rare case of acute sciatic nerve palsy with a foot drop similar to lumbar disc herniation developed after sleeping for 8 hours in a sitting position in inebriated condition. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Sciatic nerve palsy as a complication from being operated in a sitting position have been reported, but here have not been any reported cases of after-sleep sciatic nerve palsy. STUDY SUBJECT AND METHODS: Sixty eight year old male admitted to hospital due to acute onset of right foot drop, subsequent walking difficulty, and numbness of the right calf and foot. Symptoms began after 8 hours of sleeping in a sitting position. Pelvic MRI exam revealed sciatic neuropathy, and also electrophysiological exam revealed sciatic nerve palsy.
RESULTS
The subject patient's conditions started improving after 6 weeks and he was able to walk again on his own.
CONCLUSION
Sciatic nerve injury by prolonged pressure around the buttocks or posterior thighs, albeit rare, can develop and may cause foot drop, parethesia and sciatica.

Keyword

Sciatic neuropathy; Foot drop; Sitting position; Acute sciatic nerve palsy

MeSH Terms

Buttocks
Foot
Humans
Hypesthesia
Male
Sciatic Nerve
Sciatic Neuropathy
Sciatica
Thigh
Walking

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Preoperative (A) and postoperative (B) image of T2 sagittal MR show decompression state of lumbar spinal canal.

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  Fig. 2. (A) Pelvis T2 weighted coronal MR image showing sciatic nerve (arrow), bilateral gluteus muscle, obturator muscle and right pyriformis muscle swelling and marked enhancement (B). Axial image of T2 weighted (C) and T1 weighted enhance MR (D) show sciatic nerve and adjacent soft tissue edema.

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