Successful treatment of recurrent meralgia paresthetica caused by pregnancy with ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency ablation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: a case report

Abstract

A 36-year-old woman in her second pregnancy with recurrent meralgia paresthetica was successfully treated by ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) at 31 weeks gestational age. During her first pregnancy, her pain had been managed by only ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block with local analgesics. However, the pain was exacerbated by growth of the uterus and provoked a sleep disturbance this time. Neither medication nor surgical therapy could be used in consideration of the fetus; therefore, PRF therapy was applied to the patient. A needle was inserted under the LFCN with ultrasound-guidance, and PRF ablation was performed at 2 Hz/20 ms/42℃ for 180 seconds. Since she felt only slight pain during the treatment, the effect of the therapy on pregnancy appears to be negligible. One month later, she became pain-free, except when standing for long periods. Furthermore, she experienced no complications and had a healthy gestation.