Delayed sciatic palsy after total hip replacement: case report

A 33-year-old woman with a 22-year history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis developed right lower extremity sciatica 32 months after total hip arthroplasty. Physical examination and electromyography localized the abnormality to the sciatic nerve proximal to the midthigh level, involving the branch to the short head of the biceps femoris muscle. At surgical exploration, a sharp spur of methyl methacrylate, used to cement the acetabular prosthesis to the acetabulum, was found to have eroded through the lateral half of the sciatic nerve. The sciatica was relieved by neurolysis. The etiology of sciatic neuropathy after total hip replacement is reviewed.