Avoiding Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Injury During Ilioinguinal Approach

Abstract

We describe a simple technique of preventing lateral cutaneous femoral nerve injury in acetabular fractures treated by ilioinguinal approach. This nerve has highly variable course, commonly exits within 3 cm medial to anterior superior iliac spine into the thigh beneath inguinal ligament. The injury during ilioinguinal approach should not be underestimated. It usually manifests as meralgia paresthetica, characterized by a painful, burning, tingling sensation or by numbness along the anterolateral aspect of proximal thigh. We leave a 2 to 3 cm muscular cuff of internal oblique, transversalis abdominis and its fascia intact, medial to anterior superior iliac spine to protect lateral cutaneous femoral nerve.