Nerve Damage After Surgery

Nerves travel in close proximity to the bones and joints. A fracture or dislocation could thus potentially damage a nerve, in addition to the bony injury. As the fracture or dislocation itself is a painful and distressing injury, the presence of a nerve injury may not be recognized immediately.

During an operation, a nerve may be damaged by prolonged retraction, be inadvertently cut or trapped within a joint or fracture.
Somewhere between 1 in 200 to 1 in 50 patients will have permanent nerve damage after surgery. Temporary nerve injury is much more common, especially in spine surgeries.

The spectrum of a nerve injury may vary from a mild lesion with transient loss of function that recovers spontaneously to the most severe in which no recovery is possible unless the nerve is repaired.

Often, an injury is mixed with components of variable severity. Transient tingling is not uncommon following surgery to a limb due to postoperative swelling. While some symptoms may be observed closely for resolution, there are signs that could imply a more serious injury.

What are the signs of nerve damage after surgery?

Once the effects of general/regional anesthesia have worn off, the following symptoms may imply that a nerve has been significantly damaged:

Treating nerve pain after surgery

• Depending on the type and severity of your nerve injury, you may need medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve your pain. Medications used to treat depression, seizures or insomnia may be used to relieve nerve pain. In some cases, you may need corticosteroid injections for pain relief.
  
• Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to prevent stiffness and restore function.

A number of treatments can help restore function to the affected muscles. They include braces or splints, physical therapy, electrical stimulators, and exercise to help improve muscle strength, maintain your range of motion, and reduce muscle cramps.