Nerves can get damaged during hip-surgery

Thankfully, damage to the nerves around the hip joint is a rare occurrence in hip joint replacements.

The nerve which is most vulnerable to damage is the large sciatic nerve behind the hip joint.
If the nerve is damaged, lifting the foot upwards can be difficult. This is also known as foot drop.

The damage can be full or partial, and is often transient meaning that movement gradually returns.

It is estimated that approximately 1 in 100 people experience this when having hip joint replacement.

The Incidence is higher if you have previously had hip surgery.