Femoral neuropathy

Abstract

Neuropathy of the femoral nerve may cause severe pain, weakness, and loss of sensation. Such neuropathy previously has been reported in association with diabetes mellitus, hemophilia, abdominal malignant disease, and hip-joint disease and as a complication of operations on the abdomen and pelvis. Of 19 patients with femoral neuropathy in this series, 14 had diabetes mellitus. It is postulated that, in at least some of these diabetics, neuropathy developed as a result of acute alteration in the blood supply to the femoral nerve. In 3 patients, the femoral neuropathy was related to polyarteritis nodosa with decreased blood supply to the nerve, lifting heavy weights with abduction of the thighs causing traction on the nerve, and metastatic disease directly involving the nerve. In 2 patients, the cause was not discovered.