According to "Ishin Shiseki Zusetsu (Restoration Historical Sites Book)," Sannan injured his left arm in this incident, and one theory was that his arm became crippled due to this injury, so he reconciled himself to be rusui (a person representing the master during his absence) during the Ikedaya Incident, and losing his footing as samurai and having a different opinion from Kondo's and Hijikata's served to facilitate his escape from the Shinsengumi.
『維新史蹟図説』によればこの事件で山南は左腕を負傷したとされ、一説にはこのときの傷が元で片腕が不自由となったために池田屋事件にも留守居に甘んじるなど、武士としての立場を失ったことと近藤や土方とのすれ違いとが相まって、脱走の原因になったのではないかとも言われている。