This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gruber, H. Articles by Bodner, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gruber, H. Articles by Bodner, G.

The Ultrasonographic Appearance of the Femoral Nerve and Cases of Iatrogenic Impairment

Departments of Radiology (H.G., S.P., G.B.) and Neurology (R.M.) University Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; and Leopold-Franzens University, Institute of Anatomy and Histology, Innsbruck, Austria (P.K.).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Hannes Gruber, MD, Department of Radiology, Innsbruck University Hospital, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.

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 mm². 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.

Key Words: femoral nerve • femoral nerve assessment • femoral nerve impairment • iatrogenic nerve impairment • ultrasonography

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Nader, K. Malik, M. C. Kendall, H. Benzon, and R. J. McCarthy Relationship Between Ultrasound Imaging and Eliciting Motor Response During Femoral Nerve Stimulation J. Ultrasound Med., March 1, 2009; 28(3): 345 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Gruber, S. Peer, R. Meirer, and G. Bodner Peroneal Nerve Palsy Associated with Knee Luxation: Evaluation by Sonography--Initial Experiences Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2005; 185(5): 1119 - 1125. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Schafhalter-Zoppoth, I. D. Zeitz, and A. Gray Ultrasound Evidence of Intraneural Injection Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2005; 101(2): 611 - 611. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Schafhalter-Zoppoth, I. D. Zeitz, and A. T. Gray Inadvertent Femoral Nerve Impalement and Intraneural Injection Visualized by Ultrasound Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2004; 99(2): 627 - 628. [Full Text] [PDF]