Genitofemoral nerve arises from ventral rami of L1 and L2
Predominantly sensory nerve
Descends within psoas muscle, emerges on anterior surface of psoas major
Retroperitoneal structure, lies posterior to ureter
Divides into genital branch (enters deep inguinal ring) and femoral branch (posterior to inguinal ligament)
Genital branch supplies motor fibers to cremasteric muscle in males, together with sensory supply to scrotal skin; in females, it accompanies round ligament of uterus (supply to skin of mons pubis)
In thigh, lies deep to fascia lata
Femoral branch lies lateral to femoral artery in femoral sheath, supplies skin of upper thigh
Injury or irritation to nerve can occur at any point along its length
Retroperitoneum
Lower abdomen (near external iliac vessels)
Inguinal canal
GFN is chronic pain associated with genitofemoral nerve, typically involving upper thigh, groin, and scrotum
PREPROCEDURE
Indications
Contraindications
Preprocedure Imaging
Getting Started
PROCEDURE
Patient Position/Location
Equipment Preparation
Procedure Steps
Findings and Reporting
Alternative Procedures/Therapies
POST PROCEDURE
Expected Outcome
Things To Do
Things To Avoid
OUTCOMES
Problems
Complications
Selected References
Frassanito L et al: Ultrasound-guided genitofemoral nerve block for inguinal hernia repair in the male adult: a randomized controlled pilot study. Minerva Anestesiol. 84(2):189-95, 2018
Fritz J et al: Diagnostic accuracy of selective 3-T MR neurography-guided retroperitoneal genitofemoral nerve blocks for the diagnosis of genitofemoral neuralgia. Radiology. 285(1):176-85, 2017
Sakai T et al: A case of scrotal pain associated with genitofemoral nerve injury following cystectomy. J Clin Anesth. 32:150-2, 2016
Cesmebasi A et al: Genitofemoral neuralgia: a review. Clin Anat. 28(1):128-35, 2015
Hackworth RJ et al: Computed tomographic-guided genitofemoral nerve block: a simple anterior approach. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 39(2):295-7, 2015
Shanthanna H: Successful treatment of genitofemoral neuralgia using ultrasound guided injection: a case report and short review of literature. Case Rep Anesthesiol. 2014:371703, 2014
Song JW et al: Laparoscopic triple neurectomy for intractable groin pain: technical report of 3 cases. Neurosurgery. 68(2 Suppl Operative):339-46; discussion 346, 2011
Campos NA et al: Ultrasound-guided cryoablation of genitofemoral nerve for chronic inguinal pain. Pain Physician. 12(6):997-1000, 2009
Muensterer OJ: Genitofemoral nerve injury after laparoscopic varicocelectomy in adolescents. J Urol. 180(5):2155-7; discussion 2157-8, 2008
Boss A et al: Thermal damage of the genitofemoral nerve due to radiofrequency ablation of renal cell carcinoma: a potentially avoidable complication. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 185(6):1627-31, 2005
Rab M et al: Anatomic variability of the ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve: implications for the treatment of groin pain. Plast Reconstr Surg. 108(6):1618-23, 2001
Related Anatomy
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Related Differential Diagnoses
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References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Preprocedure
Procedure
Post Procedure
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Genitofemoral neuralgia (GFN)
Definitions
Genitofemoral nerve arises from ventral rami of L1 and L2
Predominantly sensory nerve
Descends within psoas muscle, emerges on anterior surface of psoas major
Retroperitoneal structure, lies posterior to ureter
Divides into genital branch (enters deep inguinal ring) and femoral branch (posterior to inguinal ligament)
Genital branch supplies motor fibers to cremasteric muscle in males, together with sensory supply to scrotal skin; in females, it accompanies round ligament of uterus (supply to skin of mons pubis)
In thigh, lies deep to fascia lata
Femoral branch lies lateral to femoral artery in femoral sheath, supplies skin of upper thigh
Injury or irritation to nerve can occur at any point along its length
Retroperitoneum
Lower abdomen (near external iliac vessels)
Inguinal canal
GFN is chronic pain associated with genitofemoral nerve, typically involving upper thigh, groin, and scrotum
PREPROCEDURE
Indications
Contraindications
Preprocedure Imaging
Getting Started
PROCEDURE
Patient Position/Location
Equipment Preparation
Procedure Steps
Findings and Reporting
Alternative Procedures/Therapies
POST PROCEDURE
Expected Outcome
Things To Do
Things To Avoid
OUTCOMES
Problems
Complications
Selected References
Frassanito L et al: Ultrasound-guided genitofemoral nerve block for inguinal hernia repair in the male adult: a randomized controlled pilot study. Minerva Anestesiol. 84(2):189-95, 2018
Fritz J et al: Diagnostic accuracy of selective 3-T MR neurography-guided retroperitoneal genitofemoral nerve blocks for the diagnosis of genitofemoral neuralgia. Radiology. 285(1):176-85, 2017
Sakai T et al: A case of scrotal pain associated with genitofemoral nerve injury following cystectomy. J Clin Anesth. 32:150-2, 2016
Cesmebasi A et al: Genitofemoral neuralgia: a review. Clin Anat. 28(1):128-35, 2015
Hackworth RJ et al: Computed tomographic-guided genitofemoral nerve block: a simple anterior approach. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 39(2):295-7, 2015
Shanthanna H: Successful treatment of genitofemoral neuralgia using ultrasound guided injection: a case report and short review of literature. Case Rep Anesthesiol. 2014:371703, 2014
Song JW et al: Laparoscopic triple neurectomy for intractable groin pain: technical report of 3 cases. Neurosurgery. 68(2 Suppl Operative):339-46; discussion 346, 2011
Campos NA et al: Ultrasound-guided cryoablation of genitofemoral nerve for chronic inguinal pain. Pain Physician. 12(6):997-1000, 2009
Muensterer OJ: Genitofemoral nerve injury after laparoscopic varicocelectomy in adolescents. J Urol. 180(5):2155-7; discussion 2157-8, 2008
Boss A et al: Thermal damage of the genitofemoral nerve due to radiofrequency ablation of renal cell carcinoma: a potentially avoidable complication. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 185(6):1627-31, 2005
Rab M et al: Anatomic variability of the ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve: implications for the treatment of groin pain. Plast Reconstr Surg. 108(6):1618-23, 2001
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