LAUSR

Introduction/Background Lumbosacral plexus injuries usually occur in patients with severe trauma requiring intensive care. The purpose of this study was to identify the initial factors associated with gait outcome of lumbosacral plexopathy caused by pelvic fracture. Material and method A total of 30 patients electrodiagnostically confirmed with lumbosacral plexopathy caused by pelvic fracture were included in this retrospective study. The demographic, injury-related, fracture-related and electrodiagnostic factors were compared between the patients with unassisted gait (UG) and assisted gait (AG) assessed in the outpatient clinic at an average of 641 days after the accident. Results Eleven patients (37%) remained AG during the follow-up period. The number of involved quadrant of pelvic fractures was larger (P = 0.011) and the proportion of unstable fracture were higher (P = 0.022) in the AG group than in the UG group. The initial muscle weakness was observed significantly more (P = 0.004) and the Dumitru and Wilbourn's scale (DWS) based on electrodiagnostic studies were significantly higher (P  Conclusion The final gait outcome is associated with the severity of pelvic fracture and lumbosacral plexopathy rather than the general severity of trauma. The severity of plexus injury evaluated by electrodiagnostic study can predict the gait outcome.