title: Sciatic nerve release following fracture or reconstructive surgery of the acetabulum. Surgical technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sciatic neuropathy associated with acetabular fractures can result in disabling long-term symptoms. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of sciatic nerve release on sciatic neuropathy associated with acetabular fractures and reconstructive acetabular surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2004, ten patients with sciatic neuropathy associated with an acetabular fracture were treated with release of the sciatic nerve from scar tissue and heterotopic bone. Additional surgical procedures included open reduction and internal fixation of the acetabulum (five patients), removal of hardware and total hip arthroplasty (three patients), and removal of hardware alone (one patient). The average age of the patients was forty-three years. All patients were followed with serial examinations and assessments for a minimum of one year (average, twenty-six months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients had partial to complete relief of radicular pain, of diminished sensation, and of paresthesias after the nerve release. Four of seven patients with motor loss and two of five patients with a footdrop demonstrated improvement in function after the nerve release. No patient had evidence of worsening on neurologic examination after the release.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sciatic nerve release during reconstructive acetabular surgery can decrease the sensory symptoms of preoperative sciatic neuropathy associated with a previous acetabular fracture. Motor symptoms, however, are less likely to resolve following nerve release.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021, USA. PSIssack@aol.com
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Issack
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreshak
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.forename: Jose B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Buly
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Helfet
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000601:surgery*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*