Peroneal nerve palsy after hip arthroscopy with a perineal post: A case report of postless versus standard traction

Abstract

BackgroundMotor neurapraxias after hip arthroscopy rarely occur, and they are mostly described with the use of traction with a perineal post. Postless hip arthroscopy is recently gaining attention due to the low traction-related complication rates, but there are no cases reporting postoperative peroneal nerve palsy between the two traction techniques so far. Case presentationA 40-year-old female weight-lifter presented with bilateral hip pain and radiographic imaging consistent with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome and a labral tear. Bilateral hip arthroscopy was performed on a postless distraction table for the left hip and on a standard traction table with a perineal post for the right hip. Following the right-side procedure, the patient experienced groin numbness and ipsilateral foot drop, that resolved between two weeks to three months, post-operatively. ConclusionHip arthroscopy using both traction techniques were efficient in this patient, but the standard traction was associated with transient pudendal and peroneal nerve injuries.