title: [2 cases of paresthetic meralgia of the femoral cutaneous nerve].
abstract: We report two cases of meralgia paresthetica. The first patient was 35-year-old pregnant woman who reported dull pain on the front and side of her thigh presenting at 6 weeks gestation. The symptoms disappeared in 1 week with conservative treatment and no other symptoms developed. The second patient was a 56-year-old woman, obese, who reported intense, burning pain with numbness and occasional bouts of piercing pain. The symptoms were resistant to treatment with non-steroidal antiinflamatory drugs or mild opiates, but were relieved by injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids. Meralgia paresthetica is mononeuropathy that affects the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. It can occur during pregnancy or in other contexts. The most common cause is entrapment of the nerve at the anterior superior iliac spine or during its passage through the inguinal ligament. The most common symptom is numbness at the front of the thigh, although burning, formication, tingling, or other forms of paresthesia may also be present. The condition is usually self-limiting, although uncomfortable. Diagnosis is based on careful neurological examination. Conservative treatment is preferred and is based on limiting periods of standing and avoidance of tight clothing. Oral analgesics can be prescribed if necessary and weight loss is required for obese patients. Surgical ablation of the nerve is a last resort.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapeútica del Dolor, Hospital Universitario Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca. mferra@ono.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrà Verdera
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ribera Leclerc
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Garrido Pastor
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D020428:Femoral Neuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
vernacular_title: Dos casos de meralgia parestésica del nervio femorocutáneo.