Nerve Injuries Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Influence of Surgical Approach

Graham S Goh; Javad Parvizi

doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2021.12.002

Nerve Injuries Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Influence of Surgical Approach

Orthop Clin North Am. 2022 Apr;53(2):129-137. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2021.12.002. Epub 2022 Mar 7.

Authors

Graham S Goh¹, Javad Parvizi²

Affiliations

¹ Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
² Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: javad.parvizi@gmail.com.

PMID: 35365257
DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2021.12.002

Abstract

Nerve injuries following total hip arthroplasty are rare but devastating complications. The most important modifiable risk factor remains the choice of hip approach and surgical technique applied. The risk of nerve injuries is related to technical complexity of the procedure and anatomic variability of the nerves. Surgeons should remain cognizant of inherent risk factors, variations in the course and branching patterns of different nerves, and technical considerations of the surgical approach to mitigate risks. This article reviews the literature on postsurgical nerve injuries following total hip arthroplasty and characterizes the influence of surgical approach on the risk of this complication.

Keywords: Approach; Complication; Direct anterior; Hip arthroplasty; Nerve injury; Nerve palsy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* / adverse effects
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* / methods
Humans
Risk Factors
Trauma, Nervous System* / etiology