Meralgia Paresthetica - Importance of Anatomical Knowledge in Diagnosis
Meralgia Paresthetica
Vol. 15 No. 1 : 2020 (280-287)
Abstract
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment is a common pathophysiology causing Meralgia Paresthetica (MP). It can be characterized by pain and dysesthesia over lateral thigh. Patient with MP classically presents with numbness, paresthesia or dysesthesia of anterolateral aspect of the thigh. However, the symptoms may be similar with other conditions including lumbar radiculopathy, femoro-acetabular impingement, trochanteric bursitis and others. It serves as a diagnosis of exclusion for unexplained anterolateral thigh pain after rigorous investigations. Anatomical knowledge on the nerves which supply the femoral area is essential in suspecting and ruling out the causes of pain. We report a case of a 46-year-old male, with known case of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, presented to Emergency and Trauma Department with complaint of acute right lateral thigh pain. The pain was described as burning and pricking in nature, and associated with numbness. There was also reduced sensation over the affected area. There was no allodynia or hyperalgesia. The capillary blood sugar was 8.4 mmol/l and HbA1c result was 7%. The diagnosis of MP was established after excluding other possible differential diagnoses in view of negative findings from the physical examination, laboratory result and radiological investigations (X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging). Patient’s condition improved after the treatment with oral neuropathic agents and physiotherapy.
Keywords :
anatomy,
lateral femoral cutaneous nerve,
Meralgia paresthetica,
Correspondance Address
Dr. Nurul Raihan Abd Kadir. Department of Internal Medicine, Taiping Hospital, 34000 Taiping, Perak, Malaysia. Tel: +6013-3415436 Email: cikgudini111@gmail.com
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