EFFECTIVENESS OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CORTICOSTEROID INJECTION AND ALCOHOL
NEUROLYSIS IN THE TREATMENT OF MERALGIA PARESTHETICA DURING A 28-MONTH
FOLLOW-UP PERIOD: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Abstract
Abstract Objectives Meralgia paresthetica is a very rare sensory
mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The
purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and compare the
results of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection and
ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis in the treatment of meralgia
paresthetica. Methods We performed a retrospective clinical study of 26
patients with a diagnosis of marelgia paresthetica with a duration of
≥10 months. The patients were divided into 2 groups, with the Group 1
receiving ultrasound-guided local corticosteroid injection and Group 2
receiving ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis to the entrapment site of
the LFCN. Results The mean age of the patients in Group 1 was 42.2 years
and in Group 2 was 40.8 years. The mean follow-up period of Group 1 was
28.7 months and Group 2 was 28.4 months. At the end of the follow-up
period 9 patients in Group 1 and 10 patients in Group 2 declared full
pain relief and improvement in cutaneous sensitivity. Conclusion Once
meralgia paresthetica has persisted corticosteroid injection and alcohol
neurolysis are both effective methods. Although the recurrence rates are
higher in corticosteroid injection, both treatment methods decreased the
pain and improved the patients’ satisfaction and long-term curative
effect.