Nerve Lesions of the Lower Limb

Question 1

What are the motor deficits resulting from a femoral nerve lesion?

Answer 1

quadriceps femoris muscle is paralyzed and knee cannot be extended

Question 2

What are the functional consequences of the sciatic nerve injury?

Answer 2

common fibular nerve is most affected
hamstring muscles are paralyzed, but weak flexion of the knee is possible because of sartorius (supplied by femoral nerve) and gracilus (supplied by obturator nerve)
-leads to foot drop

Question 3

What is sciatica?

Answer 3

pain in lower back and hip region radiating down the back of thigh and leg

Question 4

What is the most commonly injured nerve of the lower limb?

Answer 4

Fibular nerve

Question 5

What are the functional consequences of a common fibular nerve lesion?

Answer 5

Muscles of anterior and lateral compartment of leg are paralyzed (dorsiflexors and everters)
therefore the foot is plantar flexed (foot dropped) and inverted (equinovarus)

Question 6

What are the consequences of a tibial nerve lesion?

Answer 6

Hamstring muscles and all muscles of the back of leg and sole of foot are paralyzed
-foot is dorsiflexed and everted

Question 7

What are the consequences of an obturator nerve lesion?

Answer 7

paralysis of adductor muscles