Bilateral obturator nerve injuries during urologic surgery.

Obturator nerve injury can result from prolonged acute hip flexion. Bilateral obturator nerve compromise developed in a patient as a result of prolonged urologic surgery. The clinical and electromyographic findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The nerve injury was believed to result from stretching at the bony obturator foramen. Management included a trial of steroids, gait training, and instruction on avoiding acute hp flexion. The clinical and EMG abnormalities disappeared. Awareness of this occurrence and an understanding of the anatomy may avoid confusion with other conditions and permit accurate diagnosis.