The fate of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve after surgical reduction of developmental dysplasia of the hip: preliminary results.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the fate of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) after anterior reduction of the hip with or without pelvic or proximal femoral osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia. Using the antidromic technique, recording the response using standard electromyography equipment, evaluation was made of the LFCN in 36 hips of 24 patients (18 female and six male). The response was absent in six patients (25%) and nine patients (37.5%) had a somatosensory evoked potential latency greater than 40 ms. There was no relationship between somatosensory evoked potential latency or absent response with the type of incision or procedure (P=0.229 and 0.794, respectively). LFCN injury after anterior open reduction of the hip has an unexpectedly high incidence in the young paediatric age group. Exposure of the nerve during surgery can negatively affect the nerve nutrition leading to neuropraxia.