Femoral and sciatic neuropathies after total hip arthroplasty

Six patients with peripheral nerve lesions after total hip replacements were reviewed. The incidence of peripheral nerve lesions was six out of 825, i.e. 0.7 per cent. The neuropathies, four sciatic, one femoral and one combined femoral and sciatic, were due to damage by the reamer in one case, haemorrhage in two, whereas the cause was unknown in three patients. After conservative treatment and 1-5 years follow-up the recovery was classified as good in three, fair in one and poor in two patients.