[Femoral neuropathy after transversal suspubic laparotomies. Etiopathological explanation on the basis of an anatomical study].
OBJECTIVE
Based on a case of transient troncular femoral neuropathy after the surgical treatment of a genital prolapse in a 46-year-old woman, a study was designed to better understand the mechanism of this postoperative complication.


METHODS
The consequences of different varieties of transversal laparotomies were investigated in human cadavers.


RESULTS
On the basis of the data from the anatomical evaluation, the most probable etiopathogenic explanation for the complication we observed is the compression of the femoral nerve, inside the psoas muscle, by the retractor lower edge.


CONCLUSIONS
In the reported case, the outcome was simple with full sensory and motor recovery in the lower limb. The different mechanisms potentially involved in this kind of postoperative femoral neuropathies are reviewed and discussed.
Raiga
J
J
Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Hôpital Civil de Strasbourg, 1, place de l'Hôpital, BP 426, 67091 Strasbourg Cedex.
Barakat
P
P
Diemunsch
P
P
Maillot
C
C
Treisser
A
A
Brettes
J P
JP
D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D020428:Femoral Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery