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The Ultrasonographic Appearance of the Femoral Nerve and Cases of Iatrogenic Impairment
Author(s) -
Gruber Hannes,
Peer Siegfried,
Kovacs Peter,
Marth Roland,
Bodner Gerd
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2003.22.2.163
Subject(s) - medicine , inguinal ligament , femoral nerve , cadaveric spasm , femoral artery , ultrasonography , anatomy , ligament , cadaver , radiology , surgery
Objective . To assess the feasibility of ultrasonography of femoral nerves in a cadaveric specimen, healthy volunteers, and patients. Methods . In 1 unembalmed cadaveric specimen (female, 90 years) and 20 healthy volunteers (9 male and 11 female, 18–50 years; n = 40 scans), the topographic features, cross‐sectional shapes (oval or triangular), and cross‐sectional areas of the femoral nerves were evaluated by ultrasonography (5‐ to 12‐MHz broadband linear array). In a subsequent study, 7 consecutive patients with postoperative findings assigned to the femoral nerve were evaluated and assessed by a neurologist. Results . The mean ± SD anteroposterior and mediolateral diameters of the femoral nerves in the volunteers were 3.1 ± 0.8 and 9.8 ± 2.1 mm, respectively, at an average cross‐sectional area of 21.7 ± 5.2 mm 2 . The cross‐sectional shape was oval in 67.5% superior to the inguinal ligament and in 95% inferior to the ligament. The infrainguinal femoral nerve showed variable distances to the femoral artery. In the subsequent patient study, 5 patients had swelling of the femoral nerve in the affected side. In 1 patient, the nerve had a blurred echo structure due to a hematoma. In 1 patient, major damage of the femoral nerve was ruled out clearly. Conclusions . Ultrasonography allows the depiction and assessment of the femoral nerve from about 10 cm superior to 5 cm inferior to the inguinal ligament. In this region, ultrasonography is helpful in detection of impairments and, therefore, in decisions about planning and even acceleration of further treatment.