Gait characteristics of sciatic nerve palsy--a report of four cases.
There are few reports concerning the gait characteristics of sciatic nerve palsy. Four cases, one with complete palsy and three with incomplete palsy, are presented. Complete palsy (case 1) was due to sacrifice of the sciatic nerve in a wide excision for chondrosarcoma in the left ischium. Incomplete palsy (cases 2, 3, and 4) was due to contusion incurred in traffic accidents. It is noteworthy that all four patients could walk with or without a short-leg brace. But the patients with complete loss of proprioception distal to the ankle (cases 1 and 2) had to watch their steps while walking to maintain their walking balance. This clinical analysis revealed that proprioceptive impairment of the sciatic nerve caused a walking disability even though the palsy was incomplete.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aobaku, Sendai, Japan 980-8574.
Yoshihiro
Y
Hagiwara
Masahito
M
Hatori
Shoichi
S
Kokubun
Yoshinori
Y
Miyasaka
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications