Femoral Nerve Palsy With Concomitant Patellar Dislocation in a Ballet Dancer

Femoral nerve palsy with concomitant patellar dislocation is a rare clinical entity that has not previously been well documented. The authors present the case of a 16-year-old female ballet dancer who sustained a patellar dislocation with concomitant femoral nerve palsy. She experienced muscle weakness after the initial injury and developed neuropathic symptoms through the anterior left thigh. The patient exhibited muscle atrophy in her left lower extremity verified by circumferential thigh measurements as well as magnetic resonance imaging showing clear atrophy of the anterior compartment. Electromyography of the left lower extremity verified femoral neuropathy. Gross improvements in muscle strength were noted during the year following initial injury, but circumferential thigh differences persisted. Two years after initial injury, repeat electrodiagnostic studies had normal findings, but subjective left quadriceps weakness persisted and the patient was unable to return to competitive dance. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(2):e273-e275.].