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Postsurgical Nerve Injury (Shoulder, Hip, Knee Repair)

Sometimes, a peripheral nerve can become injured or entrapped during an unrelated surgery. These injuries can occur during any surgical procedure, however are most commonly seen in the following:

  • Total hip arthroplasty: The sciatic nerve exits the spinal canal, runs through the hip, buttock, and down the posterior leg. Due to the location of this nerve, it may be injured or severed during a hip replacement. Injury of the sciatic nerve can cause radiating pain down the posterior leg, weakness and/or numbness of the affected leg, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
  • Total knee arthroplasty: The peroneal nerve is a branch off of the sciatic nerve that runs along the knee and into the top of the foot. Due to the location of this nerve, it may be injured or severed during a knee replacement. Injury of the peroneal nerve can cause burning, numbness, and/or shooting pain along the outside of the lower leg into the top of the foot and ankel weakness (difficulty lifting foot up, foot drop).