Peripheral neuropathies following total hip arthroplasty

The authors reviewed the complication records following total hip arthroplasty at their institution between January 1976 and July 1989. Forty-two patients (12 men and 30 women) with 45 neurologic complications were identified following 7,133 consecutive total hip arthroplasties; an incidence rate of 0.63%. The average age of these patients was 58 years (range, 27-81 years). Thirty-four nerve injuries were noted in the lower extremity (0.48% incidence rate) and 11 in the upper extremity (0.15% incidence rate). The majority of patients (64%) with neurologic injury to the upper extremity had the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. The common peroneal was most often involved in the lower extremity. The ulnar nerve was most commonly involved in the upper extremity. The pathogenetic factors leading to neurologic injury in the majority of patients were not clearly established. Leg lengthening did not seem to be a major cause. The prognosis of patients with nerve palsy of the upper extremity is favorable compared with injury to the lower extremity. Similarly, the percentage of patients with a permanent neurologic deficit was lower in the primary surgery group (27%) compared with the revision/reoperation group (43%). The overall percentage of permanent nerve palsy was 33%. Female patients, for unclear reasons, appear to have a higher risk for neurologic injury. Also, the risk of neurologic injury following total hip arthroplasty appears to be higher with revisions/reoperations and with an inexperienced surgeon.