Malignant secondary deposit in the iliac crest masquerading as meralgia paresthetica

Unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica: systematic review of the literature and single center experience

Meralgia paresthetica is often idiopathic, but sometimes symptoms may be caused by traumatic injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) or compression of this nerve by a mass lesion. In this article the literature is reviewed on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica, including different types of traumatic injury and compression of the LFCN by mass lesions. In addition, the experience from our center with the surgical treatment of unusual causes of meralgia paresthetica is presented. A PubMed search was performed on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica. Specific attention was paid to factors that may have predisposed to LFCN injury and clues that may have pointed at a mass lesion. Moreover, our own database on all surgically treated cases of meralgia paresthetica between April 2014 and September 2022 was reviewed to identify unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica. A total of 66 articles was identified that reported results on unusual causes for meralgia paresthetica: 37 on traumatic injuries of the LFCN and 29 on compression of the LFCN by mass lesions. Most frequent cause of traumatic injury in the literature was iatrogenic, including different procedures around the anterior superior iliac spine, intra-abdominal procedures and positioning for surgery. In our own surgical database of 187 cases, there were 14 cases of traumatic LFCN injury and 4 cases in which symptoms were related to a mass lesion. It is important to consider traumatic causes or compression by a mass lesion in patients that present with meralgia paresthetica.

Meralgia Paresthetica

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review article summaries the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentations, and latest treatment modalities of meralgia paresthetica, including the latest data about peripheral and spinal cord stimulation therapy. Meralgia paresthetica (MP) causes burning, stinging, or numbness in the anterolateral part of the thigh, usually due to compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN).

RECENT FINDINGS

There are emerging data regarding the benefit of interventional pain procedures, including steroid injection and radiofrequency ablation, and other interventions including spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation reserved for refractory cases. The strength of evidence for treatment choices in meralgia paraesthetica is weak. Some observational studies are comparing local injection of corticosteroid versus surgical interventions. However, more extensive studies are needed regarding the long-term benefit of peripheral and spinal cord stimulation therapy.

A cook with 'burning in the thigh' and a 'hotspot' in the groin!

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a condition characterised by abnormal sensations on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh due to the dysfunction of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Here, I present a case of a 64-year-old female cook who attended the General Medicine clinic with 2 months of persistent numbness and 'burning' sensation over the right anterolateral thigh. Subsequent physical examination revealed the diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica. The significance of good history taking and thorough physical examination in reaching the diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica cannot be overemphasized. In most typical presentations, advanced imaging and neurodiagnostic testing do not add value to confirm the diagnosis. If the clinical diagnosis is doubtful, nerve conduction study and magnetic resonance imaging may still be performed to exclude other mimicking pathologies. Increasing awareness of MP among doctors unfamiliar with this condition will prevent the ordering of excessive investigations.

Neurolysis for meralgia paresthetica

Objective

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a syndrome of pain and/or dysesthesia in the anterolateral thigh that is caused by an entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) at its pelvic exit. Despite early accounts of MP, there is still no consensus concerning the effectiveness of neurolysis or transaction treatments in the long-term relief for medically refractory patients with MP. We retrospectively analyzed available long-term results of LFCN neurolysis for medically refractory MP in an effort to clarify this issue.

Methods

During the last 7 years, 11 patients who had neurolysis for MP were enrolled in this study. Nerve entrapment was confirmed preoperatively by electrophysiological studies or a positive response to local anesthetic injection. Decompression of the LFCN was performed at the level of the iliac fascia, inguinal ligament, and fascia of the thigh distally. The outcome of surgery was assessed 8 weeks after the procedure followed at regular intervals if symptoms persisted.

Results

Twelve decompression procedures were performed in 11 patients over a 7-year period. The average duration of symptoms was 8.5 months (range, 4-15 months). The average follow-up period was 33 months (range, 12-60 months). Complete and partial symptom improvement were noted in nine (81.8%) and two (18.2%) cases, respectively. No recurrence was reported.

Conclusion

Neurolysis of the LFCN can provide adequate pain relief with minimal complications for medically refractory MP. To achieve a good outcome in neurolysis for MP, an accurate diagnosis with careful examination and repeated blocks of the LFCN, along with electrodiagnosis seems to be essential. Possible variation in the course of the LFCN and thorough decompression along the course of the LFCN should be kept in mind in planning decompression surgery for MP.

Meralgia paresthetica: a result of tight new trendy low cut trousers ('taille basse')

Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment neuropathy involving the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh. Patients complain of a persistent burning sensation, tingling and aching pain, and hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Numerous direct and indirect causes for the disease have been suggested in the literature. We present 12 cases that were diagnosed to have meralgia paresthetica due to tight new fashion low cut trousers ('taille basse'). The diagnosis was confirmed by injecting a small amount of a short acting local anesthetic around the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which alleviated the symptoms for several hours. Electrophysiologic studies were sensitive in 83.3% of the cases. All cases were treated successfully using conservative methods, namely avoiding tight trousers, local steroid infiltration and weight reduction.

Meralgia paresthetica after liver transplantation: a case report

The focal neuropathies after orthotropic liver transplantation (OLTx) have been well documented to date. Most injuries to the peripheral nervous system involve the peroneal nerve and brachial plexus. We report the first case of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) injury after OLTx. The patient presented with pain and numbness on the lateral aspect of the right thigh that had progressively worsened since operation. Electrodiagnostic studies were indicative for right meralgia paresthetica (MP). The symptoms of MP improved progressively after physical therapy applications during the first 3 months. The etiology of MP in this case is unclear. However, it may be considered that ascites, surgical mechanisms, and immunosuppressive therapy were possible causative factors.

Meralgia paresthetica in differential diagnosis of low-back pain

OBJECTIVE

Meralgia paresthetica is a syndrome of pain or dysesthesia or both in the anterolateral thigh, caused by entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve at the anterior superior iliac spine. The aim of this report is to emphasize that meralgia paresthetica can be confused with low-back pain.

PATIENT

A 21-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of low-back and thigh pain. He had a history of low-back pain. Physical examination and radiologic studies for low-back pain and radiculopathy showed no pathologic findings. It was suspected that the most likely cause was lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy, caused by the wide military belt he continuously wore tightly around his waist.

INTERVENTIONS

The nerve was blocked with 10 ml of bupivacaine 0.25%, which provided immediate pain relief. A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was administered orally.

RESULTS

After 15 days of bed rest and 45 days without the belt, he was completely symptom-free.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to be rigorous in investigating the etiology of low-back pain. Meralgia paresthetica can mimic low-back pain because of the similarity of the symptoms. It can be treated by conservative or ablative therapeutic interventions; however, conservative methods should be considered primarily.

Meralgia paresthetica occurring 40 years after iliac bone graft harvesting: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment neuropathy involving the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. We describe an unusual case in which meralgia paresthetica occurred many years after iliac bone graft harvesting.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

An 81-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of pain, dysesthesia, and hypesthesia in the anterolateral aspect of the right thigh. This patient had undergone iliac bone grafting when he sustained a calcaneal fracture 40 years previously. Radiographs and computed tomographic scans of the pelvis revealed a bony excrescence in the anterosuperior iliac spine.

INTERVENTION

The patient underwent neurolysis of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and excision of the bony excrescence. At surgery, the nerve was densely adherent to the bony excrescence.

CONCLUSION

The etiology of meralgia paresthetica in this patient is considered to be heterotopic ossification on the anterosuperior iliac spine and pubic symphysis degeneration. A significant relationship between pubic symphysis degeneration with increasing age and meralgia paresthetica has been reported. One should be aware of meralgia paresthetica as a late complication of iliac bone graft harvesting.

Meralgia paresthetica: diagnosis and treatment

Meralgia paresthetica is a symptom complex that includes numbness, paresthesias, and pain in the anterolateral thigh, which may result from either an entrapment neuropathy or a neuroma of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The condition can be differentiated from other neurologic disorders by the typical exacerbating factors and the characteristic distribution of symptoms. The disease process can be either spontaneous or iatrogenic. The spontaneous form is usually mechanical in origin. The LFCN is subject to compression throughout its entire course. Injuries most commonly occur as the nerve exits the pelvis. The regional anatomy of the LFCN is highly varied and may account for its susceptibility to local trauma. Relief of pain and paresthesias after injection of a local anesthetic agent is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. If no improvement is found, proximal LFCN irritation should be sought. Idiopathic meralgia paresthetica usually improves with nonoperative modalities, such as removal of compressive agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and, if necessary, local corticosteroid injections. If intractable pain persists despite such measures, surgery can be considered, although whether neurolysis or transection is the procedure of choice is still controversial. Iatrogenic meralgia paresthetica has been found to occur after a number of orthopaedic procedures, such as anterior iliac-crest bone-graft harvesting and anterior pelvic procedures. Prone positioning for spine surgery has also been implicated. Variations in the anatomy of the LFCN about the anterior superior iliac spine may place the nerve at higher risk for damage. Although nonoperative management usually results in satisfactory results, efforts should be made to avoid injury at the time of surgery.

Meralgia paresthetica as the presenting feature of chronic appendicitis

Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment syndrome of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh manifesting as paresthesia, pain, numbness, or sensory loss in the distribution of the nerve. A variety of causes have been described; however, the etiology often remains unknown. On the basis of our investigations with a patient with meralgia paresthetica, we determined that an inflammatory rather than mechanical effect on the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh may account for the pathogenesis; however, a certain conclusion about this issue can not be made.

Hemangiomatosis presenting as meralgia paresthetica

The authors present a 15-year-boy with meralgia paresthetica caused by the recurrence of a diffuse congenital hemangiomatosis in the pelvic region. Relief of the patient's symptoms was achieved by neurolysis of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in the thigh and partial excision of the tumor. To our knowledge, hemangiomatosis has never been suggested as a cause of meralgia paresthetica.

Proximal sensory neuropathies of the Leg

This article addresses the proximal sensory neuropathies of the leg, concentrating on those nerves that are purely sensory or have a predominately sensory onset. These include the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, the ilioinguinal nerve, the genitofemoral nerve, and the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve. The obturator and femoral nerves are also summarily mentioned with respect to their sensory symptoms.