Decompression of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve in the Treatment of Meralgia Paresthetica

Ivica Ducic; A. Lee Dellon; Nathan S. Taylor

doi:10.1055/s-2006-932505

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2006; 22(2): 113-118
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-932505

Decompression of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve in the Treatment of Meralgia Paresthetica

Ivica Ducic¹ , A. Lee Dellon² ^, ³ , Nathan S. Taylor¹

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
²Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
³Division of Plastic Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a painful mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). Neurolysis is reserved for patients with MP who respond poorly to medical management. This study retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 41 patients who underwent either unilateral or bilateral neurolysis of the LFCN for a total of 48 procedures. Twenty-nine procedures involved neurolysis of the LFCN alone and 19 procedures involved neurolysis of the LFCN and resection of one or more additional nerves (ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, genitofemoral). Overall, surgical outcome was considered by patients to be successful in 77 percent of cases. LFCN neurolysis alone had better results, compared to combined LFCN neurolysis and nerve resection. The conclusion is that neurolysis of the LFCN is an effective treatment for MP in properly selected patients.

KEYWORDS

Neurolysis - lateral femoral cutaneous nerve - meralgia paresthetica

Full Text

References

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Ivica DucicM.D. Ph.D.

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