The cause is damage to the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh as it crosses over or through the lateral aspect of the inguinal ligament. Most cases of meralgia paresthetica are idiopathic, although there seems to be an increased incidence associated with previous inguinal surgery and also pregnancy and obesity. It is thought that these latter two conditions put additional pressure on the nerve as it passes through or over the inguinal ligament. Clinical symptoms of meralgia paresthetica consist of pain and paresthesias without weakness. The pain is a discomfort or an ache which involves the lateral thigh but which may radiate distally to the knee or proximally to the buttock and lower back.
Paresthesias are more limited in location, usually being felt in the lateral thigh.
There is no specific treatment for meralgia paresthetica. The condition resolves spontaneously in most patients, although in some, it may persist for many years. The assessment of internal and external rotation of the hip. If one is reasonably certain from the history that the patient's complaints are caused by hip disease, a complete examination of the hip must be done. The techniques for doing this are discussed below in this and ensuing chapters.