Outcome after surgery for meralgia paresthetica - a retrospective cohort study

Meralgia paresthetica may cause chronic pain and sensory disturbances. When conservative treatment fails, surgery with neurolysis or neurectomy is considered, but evidence remains limited.

To evaluate pain relief, sensory outcomes, and durability after surgical treatment of meralgia paresthetica.

In this single-center retrospective cohort study, all meralgia paresthetica patients treated surgically between 2019 and 2024 were included. Outcomes (pain, sensory disturbances and secondary surgery) were selected in accordance with core outcome set recommendations. Pain, measured as changes in NRS, was analyzed with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, between-procedure differences with Mann-Whitney U tests, and time to reoperation with Kaplan-Meier analysis.

A total of 101 patients underwent 128 procedures. Primary neurolysis (n = 102) was associated with a median pain reduction of 6.5 NRS points (p < 0.001). Secondary neurectomy, most often after insufficient effect of neurolysis (n = 18), resulted in a similar cumulative decrease of 7.0 points (p < 0.001). The magnitude of pain reduction did not differ significantly between procedures. At one year, 85.4% remained free from reoperation. Sensory improvement occurred in 64% of patients. Pain reduction occurred in 85.3% of patients.

Surgery for meralgia paresthetica provides substantial and durable pain relief. Neurolysis is effective as first-line surgery, with reoperations being uncommon and typically occurring within the first postoperative year. Neurectomy did not show superior pain relief and is associated with unavoidable sensory loss.