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Sciatic nerve injury after acetabular fractures: a meta-analysis of incidence and outcomes

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the incidence and the outcome of post-traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve palsy (SNP) associated with fractures of the acetabulum. The results of sciatic nerve grafting for treatment were also investigated.

Methods

PUBMED, SCOPUS and COCHRANE databases were searched for longitudinal observational studies reporting sciatic nerve palsy related to acetabular fractures in adult patients over the last 20 years. Data regarding patients demographics, type of acetabular fracture, rate of post traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve palsies as well as recovery rate are reported. Studies were assessed for their quality. Random effects meta-analyses were carried out to pool overall proportions of SNP incidence and complete recovery. Variations in SNP incidence by main study characteristics were assessed by subgroup analysis and meta-regression. A narrative review of sciatic nerve grafting was also conducted.

Results

Twenty studies reporting 44 post-operative and 18 iatrogenic SNPs in 651 patients were reviewed. The pooled incidence of posttraumatic SNP was 5.1% (95% CI 2.7–8.2%). The pooled incidence of iatrogenic SNP was 1.4% (95% CI 0.3–2.9%). Complete recovery of post-traumatic and iatrogenic SNP occurred in 64.7% (95% CI 41.7–85.4%) and 74.1% (95% CI 31.5–100%), respectively.

Conclusion

A favorable outcome of both post-traumatic and iatrogenic SNP related to acetabular fractures has been found. Due to the poor results of sciatic nerve grafting, a "wait and see" approach may be the best option, in cases of a contused but anatomically intact sciatic nerve.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedic Surgery, Venizeleio General Hospital of Heraklion Crete, Heraklion, Greece

    Ioannis M. Stavrakakis & Petros Kapsetakis

  2. Biostatistics, Division of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes Campus, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Evangelos I. Kritsotakis

  3. Orthopaedic Surgery, Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, University of Leeds, Leeds, GBR, UK

    Peter V. Giannoudis

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Rozalia Dimitriou & Theodoros H. Tosounidis

  5. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Johannes D. Bastian

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  1. Ioannis M. Stavrakakis
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Stavrakakis, I.M., Kritsotakis, E.I., Giannoudis, P.V. et al. Sciatic nerve injury after acetabular fractures: a meta-analysis of incidence and outcomes. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 48, 2639–2654 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-022-01896-0

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