Blind Versus Ultrasound Guidance Injections: Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Blockage Revisited

Abstract

Meralgia paresthetica is a nerve entrapment that may cause pain, numbness, hypersensivity, and paresthesias within the anterolateral region of the thigh, which is the area of distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LCFN). According to the literature, there is a large variability in the nerve course as the nerve pierces the inguinal ligament. Blockade of the LFCN has been classically described using anatomic landmarks, but the anatomic variability of the nerve may be responsible for failure rates being as high as 60%. Ultrasound (US) guidance for peripheral nerve blocks has become popular among physicians because of its several advantages when compared with traditional nerve localization techniques. US-guided LCFN blocks can be performed with better success.

Keywords

• Meralgia paresthetica
• ultrasound-guided injection
• lateral femoral cutaneus nerve