Podcast 822: Meralgia Paresthetica

<p><strong>Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD</strong></p> <p><strong>Educational Pearls:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Lateral Cutaneous Femoral Nerve Entrapment Syndrome, also known as Meralgia Paresthetica, results from entrapment of the lateral cutaneous femoral nerve, often as it exits the pelvis under the inguinal ligament. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Meralgia Paresthetica is associated with obesity, pregnancy, compression from clothing or belts and diabetes.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Symptoms include numbness, paresthesia and pain of the proximal lateral thigh. Signs or symptoms of radiculopathy such as weakness, loss of reflexes or severe back pain should not be present.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Diagnosis is clinical and does not require further imaging if there are no additional or concerning findings. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Meralgia Paresthetica typically resolves over time without intervention; however patients should be counseled on weight loss, diabetes control and avoidance of compressive clothing as relieving factors.   </span></li> </ul> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Solomons JNT, Sagir A, Yazdi C. Meralgia Paresthetica.</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Curr Pain Headache Rep</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">. 2022;26(7):525-531. doi:10.1007/s11916-022-01053-7</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grossman MG, Ducey SA, Nadler SS, Levy AS. Meralgia paresthetica: diagnosis and treatment.</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">J Am Acad Orthop Surg</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. 2001;9(5):336-344. doi:10.5435/00124635-200109000-00007</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image from my.cleve