Iatrogenic Sciatic Nerve Injury Following Surgical Treatment of an Acetabular Fracture: A Case Report of Conservative Management

Iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury is a recognized but uncommon complication of acetabular fracture surgery, often leading to significant functional impairment. We report the case of a 20-year-old man who was hit by a car and sustained a left hip dislocation with an ipsilateral acetabular fracture and developed iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury with foot drop following open reduction and internal fixation of the acetabular fracture. Electrodiagnostic studies confirmed predominant peroneal division involvement with denervation changes on needle electromyography. The patient underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation program combining orthotic management, physical therapy, and ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injections around the sciatic nerve and the ankle dorsiflexor muscles. Notable functional improvement was observed within six months . This case highlights the importance of early electrodiagnostic evaluation, multimodal rehabilitation, and the possible role of platelet-rich plasma as an adjunct therapy in the management of iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury following acetabular fracture surgery.