High-resolution ultrasonography in the assessment of meralgia paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica can be difficult to diagnose, as neurophysiological studies are often hard to interpret due to excess fatty tissue and the varying anatomy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

We retrospectively analyzed the use of high-resolution ultrasound (HRU) for confirming clinical meralgia paresthetica and compared results with nerve conduction studies.

In all 6 patients evaluated, HRUs showed significantly enlarged nerve diameter and in 3 enlarged cross-sectional area, 4 had absent nerve potentials, and in 2 the potentials could not be recorded on either side.

HRU seems promising for confirming meralgia paresthetica and can accurately localize nerve entrapment.