Postoperative Common Peroneal Nerve Injury of Seven Patients Within 2 Months: Case Reports and Analysis

Abstract

Common peroneal nerve injury was a low incidence in the event of serious consequences. But seven consecutive cases of peroneal common nerve injury were occurred in our hospital within 2 months which aroused our attention, we report and analyze the reason of these cases in order to reduce or even avoid associated clinical complications in future. We present seven cases of postoperative common peroneal nerve injury. There was no significant correlation related to sex or age in seven patients. All patients were undergoing orthopedic surgery which was no significant difference between surgeons and anesthesiologists, but three patients had lumbar history and two had diabetes history. In the aspect of anesthesia, three cases were general anesthesia and other four cases were spinal anesthesia. There was no statistical difference in anesthesia method or medication; only one case had postoperative analgesia. Two cases had tourniquet in operation. Common peroneal nerve injury was showed in 1 to 3 days after surgery and all improved after conservative treatment. The occurrence of common peroneal nerve injury is the result of multifactorial combination. The factors of orthopedic surgery, previous history of lumbar, or diabetes maybe important influencing factors. However, spinal anesthesia and intraoperative use of tourniquet have no correlation with its occurrence.