Sciatic Nerve Injury
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Division of the main sciatic nerve is rare
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Traction lesions:
- Traumatic hip dislocations
- Pelvic fractures
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Iatrogenic lesions:
- During surgery: total hip replacement
- Wrong injection site!!
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Complete lesion:
- Paralyzed hamstrings and all muscles below the knee
- Sensation is lost below the knee, except on the medial side of the leg
- Foot-drop
- High-stepping gait
- Ankle jerk absent
Common Peroneal Nerve Injury
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Branches from the sciatic nerve
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Provides sensation to the anterior and lateral parts of the leg and to the top of the foot
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Innervates dorsiflexors of the foot (in the leg)
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Often injured at level of the fibular neck
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Severe traction when the knee is forced into Varus
- e.g. in lateral ligament injuries
- and fractures around the knee
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Intraoperative injuries
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Pressure from:
- Splint
- Plaster cast
- Lying with the leg externally rotated
