An otherwise healthy patient with obturator nerve compression would most likely achieve which strength grade for hip abduction?

• A. Normal (5/5)
• B. Zero (0/5)
• C. Trace (1/5)
• D. Good (4/5)

Answer: (A)

Think about which muscles and nerves control hip movements. The obturator nerve mainly innervates the thigh’s adductor group, so it affects hip adduction rather than abduction. Hip abduction is performed by the gluteus medius and minimus (and tensor fasciae latae), which are supplied by the superior gluteal nerve. If the obturator nerve is compressed in an otherwise healthy person, the abductors work normally, so hip abduction strength would be normal. The other options imply weakness in abduction, which wouldn’t result from obturator nerve compression. Meanwhile, adduction would be the movement you’d expect to be weakened.