Lumbosacral plexopathy : A complication of ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms : Three case reports. Discussion

Although rare, neurologic injuries associated with infrarenal aortic and iliac artery surgery are devastating and associated with high mortality and morbidity. The authors reviewed their ten-year experience with 738 infrarenal aortic and iliac artery aneurysm repairs, 341 aortoiliac bypasses for occlusive disease, and 15 reoperations for infected aortic prosthesis to identify patients who suffered lower extremity neurologic deficits. Three patients, all following ruptured aneurysms, suffered injuries to the lumbosacral plexus during the study period. No injuries to the spinal cord were diagnosed. These cases are described, and the diagnosis, prognosis, and potential etiologies and prevention are discussed.