PERONEAL NERVE PALSY AND COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IN BILATERAL FEMORAL FRACTURES

Four patients with bilateral femoral shaft fractures sustained 4 peron eal nerve palsies and 2 compartment syndromes during supine intramedul lary nailings of their fractures. In each case, the compartment syndro me or common peroneal nerve palsy or both developed in the leg that wa s placed initially in the calf-supported leg holder during intramedull ary redding of the contralateral femur. Three of 4 patients had near t o full recovery of motor strength postoperatively. The authors recomme nd that a leg with a fractured femur not be positioned in a calf-suppo rted leg holder.