A 45-year-old obese woman complains of burning pain and numbness over the anterolateral aspect of the right thigh for 3 months. Knee jerk is normal, hip movements are painless, and there is no motor deficit. Which structure is compressed?

• A Femoral nerve under the inguinal ligament
• B Obturator nerve in the obturator canal
• C Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve under the inguinal ligament near the ASIS ✓
• D L2-L3 nerve root in the lumbar plexus

Explanation

Meralgia paraesthetica is entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve as it passes under or through the inguinal ligament near the anterior superior iliac spine. It is purely sensory, giving anterolateral thigh burning and numbness with a completely normal motor examination and normal reflexes, which excludes femoral neuropathy and an L2-L3 radiculopathy. Obesity, tight belts and pregnancy are typical precipitants. Obturator neuropathy causes medial thigh sensory loss with adductor weakness.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.