Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Decompression Guided by Preoperative Ultrasound Mapping

Abstract

Injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) from compression or entrapment may result in meralgia paresthetica, a painful mononeuropathy of the anterolateral thigh. Surgical decompression of the LFCN may provide relief when conservative management fails. However, the considerable anatomic variability of this nerve may complicate surgical localization and thus prolong operative time. Herein, we report the use of preoperative high-resolution ultrasonography to map the LFCN in a patient with bilateral meralgia paresthetica. This simple, noninvasive imaging technique was seen to be effective at providing precise localization of the entrapped and, in this case, bilateral anatomically variant nerves. Preoperative high-resolution ultrasound mapping of the LCFN can be used to facilitate precise operative localization in the treatment of bilateral meralgia paresthetica. This is especially useful in the setting of suspected unusual nerve anatomy.