Korean J Anesthesiol.  2007 Jun;52(6):707-711. 10.4097/kjae.2007.52.6.707.

Opposite Sciatic Nerve Injury after Fixation of Femur Shaft Fracture: Two case reports

• Im KS
• Kwon YS
• Jung HJ
• Kim JB
• Lee JM
• Lee MH

• KMID: 2299167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2007.52.6.707

Abstract

A sciatic nerve injury as a complication of the position appears to be rare. There are several reports on sciatic nerve injuries that occurred as complications of the lithotomy position. We present two cases of an opposite sciatic nerve injury after the fixation of a femur shaft fracture. Two patients complained of hyperesthesia of the right foot and a foot drop after surgery. Nerve conduction and electromyographic studies were performed, which revealed a sciatic nerve injury. The patients were treated with physiotherapy and an ankle-foot orthotic. In the case 1, patient had completely recovered ten months after surgery. However, in case 2, the patient still had residual hyperesthesia and weakness two months after surgery when he was lost to follow-up. The mechanism of nerve injury in these patients was a stretching of the nerve. Tension was placed on the nerve as a result of the external rotation of the thigh with the hip and knee joints flexed.

Keyword

complication; position; sciatic nerve injury

MeSH Terms

Femur*
Foot
Hip
Humans
Hyperesthesia
Knee Joint
Lost to Follow-Up
Neural Conduction
Sciatic Nerve*
Thigh