A 30-year-old man sustains a posterior hip dislocation with an associated posterior wall acetabular fracture. After closed reduction, he develops foot drop and numbness over the lateral leg and dorsum of foot. Which nerve is injured?

• A Tibial nerve
• B Common peroneal division of sciatic nerve ✓
• C Superior gluteal nerve
• D Inferior gluteal nerve

Explanation

The common peroneal division of the sciatic nerve is most commonly injured in posterior hip dislocations with posterior wall fractures. It is more vulnerable than the tibial division due to its lateral position and tethering at the fibular neck. Injury results in foot drop and sensory loss over the lateral leg and dorsum of foot. The sciatic nerve is injured in 10-20% of posterior hip dislocations.

Reference: Rockwood and Green's Fractures in Adults, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.