Orthopedic Surgery Expert Evaluates Post-Hip Replacement Foot Drop

Case Overview

This case involves a female patient who underwent a total hip replacement in order to repair a serious injury to her right hip. Post-operatively, the patient developed foot drop which was not present prior to the operation. She also complained of a burning sensation in the lower part of the left leg extending down into the rear surface of the foot. She was discharged and asked to follow-up a few days later, at which point symptoms were expected to resolve. Over a year later, however, her condition had not improved.

Questions to the Orthopedic Surgery expert and their responses

Do you routinely treat patients similar to the one described in the case? Please explain.

I do routinely see such patients after total hip replacements and with avascular necrosis. I am aware of this complication which is a sciatic or peroneal nerve injury and is well described.

Have you ever had a patient develop the outcome described in the case? If so, please explain.

I have not personally had one of my patients experience this complication but I have examined such patients of other physicians.

Do you believe this patient may have had a better outcome if the care rendered had been different?

Sometimes this complication resolves spontaneously over time as the underlying cause is resolved, though at the same time there are also reports of surgically exploring the peroneal nerve. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are also important to localize the level of injury in order to provide an effective diagnosis and treatment.

About the expert

This highly qualified expert is board certified in orthopedic surgery and has years of experience in orthopaedic surgery. He completed his internship training at Montefiore Hospital and his residency training in orthopedic surgery at both US Public Health Service Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He also concluded two fellowship programs in orthopedic and arthritis surgery at the State University of New York, Robert Breck Brigham Hospital and Guy's Hospital in London. He is a member of various professional associations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has published 95+ peer-reviewed journal articles and serves on the editorial boards of both the Orthopaedic Research and Reviews journal and the Journal of Arthroplasty. He lectures both nationally and internationally and is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Molecular Pharmacology and Biotechnology at an Ivy League university. He is also the Director of the Orthopedic Program in Clinical and Translational Research and of the Orthopedic Cell Biology Laboratory at the same institution. Additionally, he is an attending orthopedic surgeon at an Ivy League medical center in Rhode Island.