LFCN arises from posterior divisions of ventral rami of L2 and L3
Purely sensory providing sensation to lateral thigh
Emerges from lateral border of psoas major muscle over iliacus and under fascia iliaca
Travels caudal across iliacus toward anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and deep to IL (70% to 90%)
In thigh, located ventral and lateral to sartorius muscle and dorsal to fascia iliaca
More caudal, nerve lies in LFCN canal comprised of double layer of fascia lata between sartorius and tensor fascia lata muscles
LFCN canal is a.k.a. fat-filled flat tunnel (FFFT)
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
Ueshima H et al: Blocking the femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves using an iliac muscle plane block. J Clin Anesth. 53:2-3, 2019
Coraci D et al: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: ultrasound support in nerve assessing. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 43(6):650-1, 2018
Kokubo R et al: Anatomic variation in patient with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment neuropathy. World Neurosurg. 115:274-6, 2018
Nersesjan M et al: Sensory distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block - a randomised, blinded trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 62(6):863-73, 2018
Nielsen TD et al: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: description of the sensory territory and a novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 43(4):357-66, 2018
Gupta G et al: A randomized comparison between neurostimulation and ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block. US Army Med Dep J. 33-8, 2017
Hanna A: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve canal. J Neurosurg. 126(3):972-8, 2017
Palamar D et al: Ultrasound-guided diagnosis and injection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with an anatomical variation. Pain Pract. 17(8):1105-8, 2017
Ahmed A et al: Ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for intractable meralgia paresthetica: a case series. Br J Pain. 10(4):232-7, 2016
Coraci D et al: Ultrasound in anatomical variation of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Pain Physician. 19(7):E1097-8, 2016
Thybo KH et al: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block after total hip arthroplasty: a randomised trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 60(9):1297-305, 2016
Menzer C et al: Discriminative sensory characteristics of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve after mepivacaine-induced block. Scand J Pain. 4(2):95-100, 2013
Shteynberg A et al: Ultrasound guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block: safe and simple anesthesia for harvesting skin grafts. Burns. 39(1):146-9, 2013
Ray B et al: Variations in the course and microanatomical study of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and its clinical importance. Clin Anat. 23(8):978-84, 2010
Sim IW et al: Anatomy and anaesthesia of the lumbar somatic plexus. Anaesth Intensive Care. 32(2):178-87, 2004
Related Anatomy
Loading...
Related Differential Diagnoses
Loading...
References
Tables
Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Preprocedure
Procedure
Post Procedure
Outcomes
TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN)
Inguinal ligament (IL)
Definitions
LFCN arises from posterior divisions of ventral rami of L2 and L3
Purely sensory providing sensation to lateral thigh
Emerges from lateral border of psoas major muscle over iliacus and under fascia iliaca
Travels caudal across iliacus toward anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and deep to IL (70% to 90%)
In thigh, located ventral and lateral to sartorius muscle and dorsal to fascia iliaca
More caudal, nerve lies in LFCN canal comprised of double layer of fascia lata between sartorius and tensor fascia lata muscles
LFCN canal is a.k.a. fat-filled flat tunnel (FFFT)
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
Ueshima H et al: Blocking the femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves using an iliac muscle plane block. J Clin Anesth. 53:2-3, 2019
Coraci D et al: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: ultrasound support in nerve assessing. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 43(6):650-1, 2018
Kokubo R et al: Anatomic variation in patient with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment neuropathy. World Neurosurg. 115:274-6, 2018
Nersesjan M et al: Sensory distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block - a randomised, blinded trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 62(6):863-73, 2018
Nielsen TD et al: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: description of the sensory territory and a novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 43(4):357-66, 2018
Gupta G et al: A randomized comparison between neurostimulation and ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block. US Army Med Dep J. 33-8, 2017
Hanna A: The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve canal. J Neurosurg. 126(3):972-8, 2017
Palamar D et al: Ultrasound-guided diagnosis and injection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with an anatomical variation. Pain Pract. 17(8):1105-8, 2017
Ahmed A et al: Ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for intractable meralgia paresthetica: a case series. Br J Pain. 10(4):232-7, 2016
Coraci D et al: Ultrasound in anatomical variation of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Pain Physician. 19(7):E1097-8, 2016
Thybo KH et al: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block after total hip arthroplasty: a randomised trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 60(9):1297-305, 2016
Menzer C et al: Discriminative sensory characteristics of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve after mepivacaine-induced block. Scand J Pain. 4(2):95-100, 2013
Shteynberg A et al: Ultrasound guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block: safe and simple anesthesia for harvesting skin grafts. Burns. 39(1):146-9, 2013
Ray B et al: Variations in the course and microanatomical study of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and its clinical importance. Clin Anat. 23(8):978-84, 2010
Sim IW et al: Anatomy and anaesthesia of the lumbar somatic plexus. Anaesth Intensive Care. 32(2):178-87, 2004
STATdx includes over 200,000 searchable images, including x-ray, CT, MR, and ultrasound images. To access all images, please log in or subscribe.