Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40053067›Full record

ArticleInternational orthopaedics2025

Outcomes of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve decompression surgery in meralgia paraesthetica: assessment of pain, sensory deficits, and quality of life.

Francesco Reuter, Karl Schwaiger, Paul Panzenbeck, Michaela Gruber, Maximilian Mahrhofer, Martin Geroldinger, Andreas Gohritz, Gottfried Wechselberger, Elisabeth Russe

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Article in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Francesco ReuterHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Karl SchwaigerHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Paul PanzenbeckHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Michaela GruberHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Maximilian MahrhoferHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Martin GeroldingerParacelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
Andreas GohritzUniversity Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Gottfried WechselbergerHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria.
Elisabeth RusseHospital of the Brothers of St. John of God, Salzburg, Austria. elisabeth.russe@bbsalz.at.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMeralgia paraesthetica (MP) is a rare neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), characterized by thigh pain, paraesthesia, or sensory loss. When conservative treatments fail, surgical interventions such as neurolysis or neurectomy are considered. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical decompression of the LFCN in alleviating pain, addressing sensory deficits, and improving quality of life.

methodsA prospective study was conducted on 26 patients who underwent LFCN decompression surgery between 2015 and 2023, with a minimum follow-up period of one year. Outcomes were assessed using pre- and postoperative questionnaires, including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and the Pain Disability Index (PDI).

resultsThe cohort consisted of 15 males and 11 females, with 81% reporting symptom onset following prior surgeries or trauma. Postoperatively, 95.8% of patients experienced pain relief, with 76.9% achieving complete pain resolution (NRS 0). There was a significant reduction in average perceived pain (from 6.6 ± 1.9 to 0.7 ± 1.1; p < 0.001) and maximum perceived pain (8.0 ± 1.54 to 1.0 ± 1.67; p < 0.001). Full sensory function was restored in 61.2% of patients, and quality of life scores improved markedly, with an average increase of 8.4 out of 10 points (± 1.9; p < 0.001).

conclusionThese results demonstrate that neurolysis of the LFCN is highly effective in the treatment of refractory MP, offering substantial pain relief, sensory restoration, and improved quality of life. Furthermore, patients with previous injuries or surgeries benefited most from NL, suggesting that these factors serve as positive prognostic indicators.

Indexed as

Decompression, SurgicalFemoral NerveNerve Compression SyndromesQuality of LifeAdultAgedFemaleFemoral NeuropathyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeLateral femoral cutaneous nerveMeralgia paraestheticaNerve decompressionNeurectomyNeurolysisSurgical outcomes

Identifiers

PMID40053067

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.