Is preoperative tibial traction responsible for peroneal nerve palsy in patients with a fractured hip?

A study of 456 cervical hip fractures treated with internal fixation was performed to evaluate the incidence of paralysis of the peroneal nerve following hip-fracture treatment. There were no cases of peroneal nerve paralysis in a group of 206 patient treated with a dynamic hip screw without preoperative traction. There were 2 cases of peroneal nerve paralysis in a group of 250 patients treated with 3 parallel screws with preoperative skeletal traction via a tibia pin. This difference was not significant according to Fischer's test (two-tailed P value = 0.5036). We conclude that the incidence of paralysis of the peroneal nerve following hip-fracture treatment is low although preoperative skeletal traction with the injured leg positioned in a Böhler-Braun splint may contribute to this complication.