Early repair of proximal sciatic nerve transection following skiing accidents

Introduction Sciatic nerve transections cause significant morbidity and are difficult to treat. Research question We examined the results of early nerve repair following proximal sciatic nerve transection in two cases caused by similar skiing accidents. Material and Methods Both patients were young adult males who suffered skiing accidents in which the edge of a ski inflicted a deep, oblique cut to the left buttock, resulting in paralysis of all muscles innervated by the left sciatic nerve. In each case, early surgical exploration and nerve repair were performed, followed by immobilization to prevent undue tension on the suture line. Results Over time, both patients regained useful motor function, except for ankle dorsiflexion. Discussion and conclusion Because of progressive retraction of nerve ends, early exploration and direct repair are key to success. Repairing lesions in the buttock can yield relatively good functional outcomes, except for ankle dorsiflexion.