Skip to Main Content

We have a new app!

Take the Access library with you wherever you go—easy access to books, videos, images, podcasts, personalized features, and more.

Download the Access App here: iOS and Android

Entrapment neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve resulting in discomfort and numbness.

Familial Meralgia Paraesthetica.

Uncommon; limited to case reports of familial occurrence in several families. Sigmund Freud and one of his sons were affected by this disorder. Autosomal dominant transmission. Most cases of meralgia paresthetica however are acquired.

Compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve at the level of Poupart ligament or in the fascia lata soon after entering the thigh beneath the lateral end of the inguinal ligament. Numbness and discomfort over the lateral aspect of the thigh, accompanied by decreased objective sensation to touch, pain, and sometimes temperature.

Caution in transfer and positioning the patient. Avoid further compression over the areas through which the nerve travels, that is, over the lateral aspect of the inguinal ligament and the lateral aspect of the thigh.

Massey EW: Familial occurrence of meralgia paraesthetica [letter]. Arch Neurol 35:182, 1978.  [PubMed: 629666]
Massey EW: Meralgia paraesthetica in a child. J Pediatr 93:325, 1978.  [PubMed: 671178]
Siu TL, Chandran KN: Neurolysis for meralgia paresthetica: an operative series of 45 cases. Surg Neurol 63:19, 2005.  [PubMed: 15639511]

Pop-up div Successfully Displayed

This div only appears when the trigger link is hovered over. Otherwise it is hidden from view.