title: Sciatic nerve injuries following femoral shaft fractures: Does the time interval from injury to surgery matter?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injury Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emamhadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Electronic address: saberineuro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saberi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Poursina Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Sasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andalib
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Femoral shaft fractures; Functional recovery; Nerve surgery; Sciatic nerve injuries; Sciatic nerve palsy; Time interval from injury to surgery