[Peripheral nerve injury due to total replacement of the hip-joint (author's transl)]

Report on peripheral nerve lesions due to total replacement of the hip-joint based on the literature and the authors' own experience. In 15 patients our diagnosis was made on clinical and electromyographic evidence. 16 endoprostheses had been inserted. The femoral nerve was involved on 12 occasions, the sciatic in 5, the glutei in 5, the obturator in 2, the lateral cutaneous femoris in 2 and the posterior cutaneous in 1 instances. One has to count on about 1% of such lesions. This type of paresis has to be distingushed from pseudopareses for which electromyography was proved very effective. Damage due to overstretching is probably the main cause. Treatment with thorough physiotherapy and faradic stimulation is needed. When this is done the prognosis is generally favourable. In some cases, however, these complications may limit the success of the operation and postoperative disability may be worse than before.