HOSPITALIZATION AND DISCHARGE OUTCOME OF TRAUMA PATIENTS SUSTAINING SCIATIC-NERVE OR SCIATIC BRANCH INJURIES

This study determined the number and severity of injuries, surgeries, and/or other complications and their impact on the acute hospital cour se of a series of 15 patients sustaining unilateral traumatic sciatic nerve or sciatic branch injuries. Outcome measures studied were length of stay, time to ambulate independently from admission, starting lime for physical therapy, and number of physical therapy sessions, Median length of stay (LOS) and time to independent ambulation with assistiv e devices from admission were 12 and 8 days, respectively Seven patien ts required fasciotomy, five required vascular repair, and five sustai ned fractures of the involved limb. Patients needing a fasciotomy had a significantly longer LOS (P < 0.002) and time to ambulate independen tly (P < 0.001), started physical therapy later (P < 0.006), and requi red more therapy sessions (P < 0.007) before independent ambulation wa s achieved. patients with a vascular repair had a significantly longer LOS (P < 0.049) and time to ambulate independently (P < 0.012). These patients trended toward starting physical therapy later (P < 0.063) a nd requiring more therapy sessions (P < 0.109) before independent ambu lation was achieved. The presence of a fracture in the involved limb d id not affect outcome variables. The level and severity of nerve injur ies were variable; therefore, their effects on LOS and ambulation coul d not be determined, These findings suggest that fasciotomies and vasc ular repairs but not fractures adversely affect the acute LOS, lime to ambulate independently, start of physical therapy and number of physi cal therapy sessions in trauma patients with sciatic nerve or sciatic branch injury. This information may be useful to the consulting physia trist.