Inflammatory neuropathy may cause weakness, pain after hip surgery

Ipsilateral weakness and pain experienced by patients after hip surgery may be caused by inflammatory neuropathy, according to results published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

“Neuropathy after surgery can significantly affect postsurgical outcomes,” Nathan Staff, MD, PhD, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic, stated in a Mayo Clinic press release. “The good news is that if we’re able to identify patients experiencing postsurgical inflammatory neuropathy, rather than damage caused by a mechanical process, we may be able to provide treatment immediately to mitigate pain and improve overall outcomes.”

Researchers performed cutaneous sensory nerve biopsy on seven patients who developed unexplained ipsilateral leg weakness and pain within 1 month of hip surgery. Researchers reviewed patient medical records for the clinical, electrophysiologic, radiologic and pathologic features of the new neuropathy, according to the study abstract.

Results showed all nerve biopsies were abnormal with axonal damage, inflammation, signs of ischemic injury and nerve microvasculitis. Researchers treated six patients with intravenous methylprednisolone, and all patients showed improvement in function and pain at median follow-up of 6 months.

References:

Laughlin RS. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014;doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2013.10.027.

www.mayoclinicproceedings.org.

Disclosure: The researchers have no relevant financial disclosures.