femoral nerve lesion
Last reviewed 01/2018
Sources of injury to the femoral nerve include a gunshot wound, traction during an operation, a spontaneous haematoma in patients with a bleeding diathesis or on anticoagulant therapy, and diabetes mellitus.
This lesion is characterised by wasting and weakness of the quadriceps femoris muscle, often causing difficulty in walking. Pain and paraesthesiae may occur in the front of the thigh but are usually less prominent features. The paraesthesia may extend below the knee medially, following the distribution of the saphenous branch of the femoral nerve.
There are no specific treatments. The condition often improves slowly over weeks or months in the absence of further aggravation.