How long does it take to recover from sciatic nerve injury

If the sciatic nerve is accidentally injured, our daily walking will be greatly affected. Generally, patients with mild sciatic nerve injuries can recover through bed rest and medication. But for some patients with more severe injuries, surgery may be necessary. The recovery process varies for different patients, generally taking 1-3 months.

Sciatic nerve injury is composed of lumbar spinal cord roots 4, 5 and sacral spinal cord roots 1, 2, and 3. Cause of injury: Mostly caused by firearms injuries to the thigh or buttocks. Sometimes hip dislocation and pelvic fracture may also be accompanied by sciatic nerve injury. Drug injection injuries are also common. In case of complete rupture, all muscles below the knee are paralyzed, but the hamstring muscles are generally not greatly affected. If it is a partial injury, it will manifest as partial paralysis of the common peroneal nerve or tibial nerve. Suturing often requires extensive nerve mobilization and knee flexion and hip hyperextension. Fix in the above position for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Repairing nerves is of great significance for restoring sensation and nutrition, and can prevent and treat ulcers.

Causes

Posterior dislocation of the hip, knife wounds to the buttocks, surgical injuries to the buttocks muscle contracture, and intramuscular injection of drugs into the buttocks can all cause high-position injuries.

Drug injection injury, especially penicillin injection, is the most common cause of sciatic nerve injury, also known as iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury, which is more common in children. The cause of injury is related to direct injury from improper injection site or excessive drug dosage that stimulates the sciatic nerve; sharp injury, acetabulum fracture, pelvic fracture and hip dislocation, especially posterior dislocation, are also common causes of sciatic nerve injury.

symptom

【1】Clinical manifestations

1. Sports If the injury is at the greater sciatic foramen or above the ischial tuberosity, the hamstring muscles, anterior, lateral and posterior calf muscles and foot muscles will all be paralyzed. If the injury occurs in the middle and lower thigh, since most of the hamstring muscle branches have already been sent out, only the muscles below the knee will be paralyzed. If its branches are injured, the muscles in the areas innervated by the common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve will be paralyzed.

2. Sensation: Except for the saphenous nerve innervated area on the inner side of the calf and the medial malleolus, all sensations below the knee are lost.

3. Nutrition: There are often serious nutritional changes, and deep ulcers on the soles of the feet

【2】Complications

Ulcers often occur on the soles of the feet.

【3】Diagnosis

History of trauma or injection, paralysis of muscles below the thigh or below the knee; paralysis of muscles in the area innervated by nerve branches. Partial loss of sensation in the area below the calf. Electromyography can confirm the diagnosis.