Meralgia paresthetica mimic after Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine

Abstract

This report describes the case of a 56-year-old male who developed unilateral right anterior thigh numbness which began 16 hours after receiving his second Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in the left deltoid. The numbness persisted and after one week a circular, raised, painless area with a red border appeared in the center of the anterior thigh which resolved after 2 weeks spontaneously. There was no clinical history or risk factors consistent with meralgia paresthetica. At his 6 month follow up the patient reported that his symptoms spontaneously resolved. While many other non-specific neurologic side effects of COVID-19 vaccines have been documented, this is the first case of meralgia paresthetica documented after a vaccine without any other risk factors for the syndrome. COVID vaccines should be considered as a potential cause of very localized peripheral neuropathy.