Effect of thigh flexion on somatosensory evoked potentials in meralgia paresthetica

Standing with the thigh extended or lying still provokes and stepping or sitting relieves the symptoms in some patients with meralgia paresthetica. We performed this study to confirm this clinical feature with electrophysiological measures. Twenty-one symptomatic and 17 asymptomatic legs of 19 patients were evaluated by somatosensory evoked potential studies in both extended and flexed thigh positions. In the symptomatic group, thigh flexion significantly reduced the cortical latency. This finding is parallel with the relief of the symptoms.