Question

When an anesthesized patient's condition is changed from lithotomy to supine, the patient's legs should be lowered slowly to prevent which of the following?

1) Femoral nerve damage
2) Sciatic nerve damage
3) Tibial nerve damage
4) Peroneal nerve damage

Answer 1

When transitioning an anesthetized patient from lithotomy to supine position, legs should be lowered slowly to prevent peroneal nerve damage, as it is susceptible to injury due to its position near the fibula.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an anesthetized patient's condition is changed from lithotomy to supine, the patient's legs should be lowered slowly to prevent peroneal nerve damage. Lowering the legs too rapidly can lead to acute changes in leg positioning, which can stretch or compress the nerves, potentially causing nerve damage. Given that the peroneal nerve is susceptible due to its location and the way it wraps around the fibula, it is the most at-risk when transitioning from lithotomy to supine.

The peroneal nerve, a division of the sciatic nerve, is particularly vulnerable as it traverses the fibular head. If the legs are lowered too quickly, there is a risk of stretching or compressing this nerve against the fibula, which could lead to nerve damage and the development of a condition known as 'foot drop' or paresthesia in the distribution of the nerve. Slowly lowering the legs allows blood circulation to normalize and prevents any sudden tension on the nerves, particularly the peroneal nerve.