Comparing Ways to Freeze the Nerve That Provides Thigh Sensation
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background
The sensation on the outside of portion of our thighs is provided by a nerve called the
lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The investigators can inject freezing around the
nerve to reduce the feeling around the thigh (i.e. anesthesia). Anesthesia, or freezing, of
the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can reduce pain for patients having A) hip and knee
surgery [1,2], B) removal of a skin graft [3], and C) wound care. In addition, damage to the
LFCN (i.e. Meralgia Paresthetica) has been associated with body armour and gun belt use in
military and police personnel [4]. Although generally a benign condition, compression or
injury to this nerve can be painful and require treatment. In addition, the actual
variability in sensory distribution for this nerve has not been elucidated in a topographical
fashion and will be measured in this study.
Finding the most efficient and effective method for anesthesia of the LFCN can improve and
positively impact the quality of pain control for patients. Ultrasound has improved the
accuracy and efficiency of various other regional anesthesia techniques, and could also
impact the safety. Therefore the investigators hypothesize that ultrasound guided lateral
femoral cutaneous nerve block using the subinguinal technique will be statistically more
efficacious and efficient when compare to neurostimulation based blockade.