Sciatic nerve atrophy as a predictor of impaired wound healing in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia following endovascular therapy: A prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND

A prior retrospective single-center study involving patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) demonstrated that sciatic nerve atrophy (SNA) is associated with impaired wound healing (IWH) and reduced amputation-free survival (AFS). We conducted a prospective single-center pilot study to validate the prognostic implications of SNA in predicting wound healing and AFS.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with CLTI and associated tissue loss were recruited for participation in this prospective, noninterventional study. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the sciatic nerve at the mid-to-lower femoral quarter was quantified utilizing computed tomography imaging. SNA was identified based on the predefined CSA threshold. Patient outcomes were evaluated through outpatient clinic visits and telephone follow-ups. Outcomes assessed included wound healing rate, adverse wound outcomes (AWO), and AFS.

RESULTS

In the cohort of 52 limbs with CLTI from 52 patients, 19 individuals were categorized into the SNA group. The 6-month wound healing rate was significantly lower in the SNA group (15.8%) compared to the normal group (87.9%) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of SNA for predicting AWO at 6 months were 80.0% and 90.6%, respectively. Patients in the SNA group had significantly lower AFS at 1 year (68.4% vs 93.9%, p = 0.011). Multivariable analysis further established that SNA was an independent prognostic factor for both AWO (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.113; 95% CI: 0.034-0.381; p < 0.001) and AFS (HR: 6.135; 95% CI: 1.236-30.303; p = 0.026) following endovascular therapy (EVT).

CONCLUSIONS

SNA was identified as a predictor for AWO and AFS in patients with CLTI after EVT. Future research should involve rigorous basic and large-scale clinical studies to elucidate the association between SNA and prognosis in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD)/CLTI and explore the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.