II. Pathophysiology

  1. Compression Neuropathy
  2. Entrapment of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
  3. Associated with compression at inguinal ligament

III. Associated conditions

  1. Obesity
  2. Wide belt
  3. Corset or tight jeans
  4. Pregnancy
  5. Diabetes Mellitus
  6. Prior inguinal surgery

IV. Symptoms

  1. Paresthesias or Dysesthesias at proximal lateral thigh
    1. Known as Meralgia Paresthetica
    2. Burning Sensation
    3. Tingling or stinging pain
    4. Numb Sensation
  2. Pain radiation
    1. Knee
    2. Buttock
    3. Low back
  3. Unilateral in most cases (may occur bilaterally)
  4. Provocative factors
    1. Sitting with involved leg under body
      1. Women commonly sit in this position
      2. Rifle team members
    2. Prolonged sitting or squatting
    3. Increased walking or standing

V. Signs

  1. Motor function fully intact
  2. Hyperesthesia over lateral thick
    1. Increased light Touch Sensation
    2. Increased pinprick Sensation

VI. Differential Diagnosis

  1. Femoral Neuropathy
  2. Lumbar Radiculopathy (L2-3, L3-4)
  3. Lumbar plexus lesions

VII. Diagnosis

VIII. Management

  1. Clothing changes
    1. Avoid wide belts
    2. Avoid tight garters or girdles
  2. Weight loss
  3. Capsaicin
  4. Elavil 30 mg qhs
  5. Local Anesthetic and Corticosteroid
  6. Surgery rarely indicated
    1. Surgical Decompression
    2. Destruction of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

IX. Course

  1. Spontaneous resolution in many cases by 2 years

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Related Studies

Ontology: Meralgia paresthetica (C0152110)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH C537458
ICD9 355.1
ICD10 G57.1 , G57.10
SnomedCT 155076004, 85007004
English Entrap of lat cut nrve of thig, MERALGIA PARAESTHETICA, meralgia paresthetica (diagnosis), meralgia paresthetica, Meralgia para-aesthetica, Meralgia paresthetica, bernhardt-roth syndrome, meralgia para aesthetica, Meralgia paresthetica, unspecified lower limb, Bernhardt-Roth syndrome, Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment, Meralgia paraesthetica (disorder), Bernhardt-Rot syndrome, Compression of lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of thigh, Lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of thigh syndrome, Bernhardt's paraesthesia, Bernhardt's paresthesia, Entrapment of lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, Meralgia paraesthetica, Meralgia paresthetica (disorder), Roth, entrapment; neuropathic, nerve, lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh, meralgia paraesthetica, n.cutaneus femoris lateralis; disorder, n.cutaneus femoris lateralis; syndrome, Lateral cutaneous femoral nerve of thigh compression or syndrome
Italian Meralgia parestesica
French Méralgie paresthétique, MERALGIE PARESTHESIQUE, Méralgie paresthésique
German Meralgia paresthetica, MERALGIA PARAESTHETIKA, Meralgia paraesthetica, Meralgie paraesthetika
Japanese 感覚異常性大腿神経痛, カンカクイジョウセイダイタイシンケイツウ
Portuguese MERALGIA PARESTESICA, Meralgia parestética
Czech Meralgia paraesthetica, Meralgia parestetika
Korean 이상 지각성 대퇴신경통
Hungarian Meralgia paraesthetica
Dutch inklemming; neuropathie, nervus, cutaneus lateralis van bovenbeen, n.cutaneus femoris lateralis; aandoening, n.cutaneus femoris lateralis; syndroom, Meralgia paraesthetica, meralgia paraesthetica
Spanish compresión del nervio crural cutáneo lateral del muslo, compresión del nervio femoral cutáneo lateral del muslo, meralgia parestésica (trastorno), meralgia parestésica, parestesia de Bernhardt, síndrome de Bernhardt - Rot, síndrome del nervio crural cutáneo lateral del muslo, síndrome del nervio femoral cutáneo lateral del muslo, Meralgia parestésica