Steppage Gait

Steppage gait results from the inability to lift the foot due to weakened dorsiflexion 

– Surgery is a common mechanism of damage or compression of the neuraxis (in this case sciatic nerve injury) that can lead to foot drop  

– Physical therapy and orthotics may be helpful 

 

Patient 1:

This is a  72 year-old man who presented for evaluation of cognitive impairment and is noted to have recurring ground-level falls. He also has a unilateral foot drop and heberden’s nodes in hands. The cause of the lower motor neuron injury is a recent hip replacement surgery.