Suprainguinal Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Neurectomy for Recurrent Meralgia Paresthetica: A Technique Guide

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a neuropathy caused by injury or compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), presenting as numbness, tingling, or burning pain in the lateral thigh. While surgical decompression has traditionally been a common surgical treatment for MP, recently, fully transecting the LFCN is increasingly becoming the first-line surgical management as more favorable outcomes are reported. Although infrainguinal neurectomy is the primary surgical approach, recurrent or persistent symptoms due to neuroma formation or proximal variations in branching patterns can necessitate revision surgery via a suprainguinal approach. This technical note details our preferred suprainguinal LFCN neurectomy technique for the treatment of recurrent MP.