Sciatic nerve injuries following femoral shaft fractures: Does the time interval from injury to surgery matter?

OBJECTIVES: Sciatic nerve injuries following fractures of femoral shaft are uncommon complications. The patients with such deficits present with sciatic nerve palsy. A few cases of sciatic nerve injuries secondary to femoral shaft fractures have thus far been reported. If such patients fail to improve spontaneously, they may require surgical exploration. The present paper gives an account of surgical exploration in patients presenting with sciatic nerve injuries following femoral shaft fractures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical outcomes were assessed in 14 patients undergoing surgical exploration of sciatic nerve injuries following femoral shaft fractures.

RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between the time interval from injury to surgery and motor function recovery. Furthermore, a negative but non-significant correlation was seen between the time interval from injury to surgery and sensory recovery.

CONCLUSIONS: Early exploration of sciatic nerve injuries following femoral shaft fractures can be beneficial if the nerve injury does not improve spontaneously.