Neurotmesis of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve when coring for iliac crest bone grafts

Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998 Sep;102(4):1163-6. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199809040-00038.

Abstract

Two patients are presented suffering from meralgia paresthetica, owing to neurotmesis of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve following bone-graft harvesting from the iliac crest with a cylindrical osteotome. Despite this donor-site complication, the advantages of a coring technique as compared with traditional bone-graft harvesting techniques are numerous: better cosmetic results, less pain, no need for general anesthesia, shorter hospitalization, and a minimum of donor-site morbidity. Also, this technique has proven itself easy and effective. To minimize donor-site morbidity, some clinical recommendations to avoid neurotmesis are given with regard to the anatomy and anatomic variations of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthroplasty*
  • Bone Transplantation / physiology*
  • Female
  • Femoral Nerve / injuries*
  • Humans
  • Ilium / innervation*
  • Male
  • Metacarpophalangeal Joint / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Thigh / innervation*