Femoral Neuropathy

Question 1

Compression of the femoral nerve is relatively ______. Why?

Answer 1

Highly uncommon due to its position in the pelvis and anterior thigh

Question 2

What typically causes femoral neuropathy?

Answer 2

hip or pelvic fractures, masses within the iliacus (ex- hematoma)
childbirth or procedures like hip replacement, abdominal and pelvic surgery, or laparoscopy, inguinal lymph node biopsy, femoral nerve block, femoral artery puncture
transection, diathermy, toxic injury, and ischemia

Question 3

what are some symptoms of femoral neuropathy?

Answer 3

• weakness of quadriceps (with sparing of adduction)
• possible ilopsoas weakness
• sensory loss over anterior and medial thigh
• knee jerk decreases or disappears

Question 4

What else can this cause? What are the symptoms?

Answer 4

damage to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve due to mild trauma or knee operations
- gonyalgia paresthetica (sensory loss and several centimeter diameter patch below the knee with intermittent lancinating pain

Question 5

What is the only factor associated with prognosis?

Answer 5

estimate of axonal loss