A 45-year-old obese woman complains of burning pain and numbness over the anterolateral thigh. The pain worsens on standing and walking and is relieved by sitting. Hip examination is normal, straight leg raise is negative, and knee reflexes are intact. There is no motor deficit. What is the diagnosis?

• A Femoral neuropathy
• B L3 radiculopathy
• C Obturator nerve entrapment
• D Meralgia paraesthetica ✓

Explanation

Meralgia paraesthetica is compression of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh (L2, L3) where it passes under or through the inguinal ligament near the ASIS, typically in obesity, pregnancy, tight belts, or diabetes. It is purely sensory: burning dysaesthesia over the anterolateral thigh with no weakness and no reflex change. Femoral neuropathy and L3 radiculopathy would produce quadriceps weakness and a depressed patellar reflex, features absent here, and obturator entrapment gives medial thigh pain.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.