Neural and vascular injury in total hip arthroplasty

Complete awareness of the anatomy of the pelvis and proximal femur is required if neurologic and vascular complications are to be avoided following total hip arthroplasty. Avoidance of the anterior quadrants for acetabular screw fixation is critical. Cementing techniques are important, and all acetabular and femoral defects should be bone grafted to avoid inadvertent cement migration. Knowledge of the location of pertinent neural and vascular structures should guide retractor placement. Planned lengthening of an extremity during total hip arthroplasty poses a significant risk to neurologic structures, and SSEP monitoring should be considered. In difficult revision procedures and complex primary total hip arthroplasty, preoperative neural and vascular assessment and SSEP monitoring should be done. With the occurrence of a postoperative nerve palsy, careful review of the procedure should be performed to determine the cause of the injury. In this manner the surgeon can best offer appropriate counseling to the patient as to the likelihood of neurologic recovery.