Study of Superior Gluteal Mononeuropathy After Total Hip Arthroplasty Through Modified Direct Lateral Approach

Neurological complications following total hip arthroplasty are uncommon, and their impact ranges from transient and trivial to permanent and devastating.

In general, the prevalence rate of neurologic injury after primary hip arthroplasty is estimated as 0.7-3.5% , whereas it may increase up to 7.6% after revision hip arthroplasty.

Direct or indirect injuries of nerves may occur during operative exposure and subsequent procedures. Injuries to the peripheral nerves can come about in several ways: laceration, ischemia, mechanical deformation from compression or distraction, or a combination of these causes.

Peripheral nerve injuries can involve either distant sites or nerves in the immediate vicinity of the hip joint. Sciatic nerve injury is the most common nerve to be injured following total hip arthroplasty. Femoral nerve injury is much less common and is associated with an anterior approach. Its diagnosis is often delayed, but the prognosis is generally better than with sciatic nerve injury.

The direct lateral approach to the hip was described by Hardinge and is based on the observation that the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis are in functional continuity through the thick tendinous periosteum covering the greater trochanter.