Interstitial electrical nerve stimulation in combination with perineural injections of corticosteroids in the treatment of paresthetic meralgia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Paresthetic meralgia is a neuropathy caused by compression, pinching or stretching of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve between the inguinal ligament and the anterior superior iliac spine.
 AIM: to study the effectiveness of interstitial electrical nerve stimulation in combination with perineural corticosteroid injections in the treatment of paresthetic meralgia.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed 30 patients with bilateral paresthetic meralgia. All patients suffered from numbness, tingling, and pain in the lateral thighs. Our study included only patients with bilateral lesions and severe pain. Patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group ― 10 patients underwent drug therapy (control group). The 2nd group included 10 patients who, in addition to drug therapy, underwent a course of perineural corticosteroid injections. The third group included 10 patients who, in addition to drug therapy, underwent a course perineural corticosteroid injections and interstitial electrical nerve stimulation.
 RESULTS: The obtained results prove the high efficacy of perineural corticosteroid injections in the treatment of paresthetic meralgia in comparison with the exclusive use of medical therapy. At the same time, the analgesic effect increased by 2.17 times, the regression of positive sensory symptoms increased by 1.2 times, sensitivity improved by 2 times and the quality of life of patients in the physical and mental spheres significantly improved. The use of interstitial electrical nerve stimulation after perineural corticosteroid injections exceeded the effectiveness of perineural corticosteroid injections in reducing pain by 98%, regressing positive sensory symptoms by 63%, reducing the zone of hypesthesia by 2 times and improving the quality of life in the physical and mental components of SF-36 by an average of 2 times.
 CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended to perform perineural corticosteroid injections in the treatment of patients with paresthetic meralgia, followed by the use of interstitial electrical nerve stimulation.