Meralgia paresthetica: Nerve stimulator-guided injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine, a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Meralgia paresthetica is a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. A common therapy is injection with corticosteroids. The goal of this study was to analyze the effect of injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine vs placebo.

METHODS:

After randomization, 10 patients received a nerve stimulator-guided injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine, and 10 patients received saline. The primary outcome measure was pain (visual analogue scale, VAS).

RESULTS:

In the placebo group, there was a significant pain reduction (baseline VAS, 6.8; VAS week 12, 4.3; P = .014). The VAS score in the methylprednisolone group did not show a significant reduction (baseline VAS, 7.4; VAS week 12, 4.8; P = .053). There was no significant difference in pain reduction between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

We found no objective evidence for benefit from nerve stimulator-guided injection with corticosteroids in meralgia paresthetica, although this study is limited by a small sample size. Future placebo-controlled studies using ultrasound-guided injection are warranted.

• Authors: Mark E Kloosterziel, Dénes L J Tavy, Samuel Arends, Joyce M Zijdewind, Erik W van Zwet, Paul W Wirtz
• Journal: Muscle & nerve (Muscle Nerve) Vol. 61 Issue 6 Pg. 788-791 (06 2020) ISSN: 1097-4598 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32239737 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Anesthetics, Local
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Lidocaine
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Aged
• Anesthetics, Local (administration & dosage)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Electric Stimulation (methods)
• Female
• Femoral Nerve (drug effects, physiology)
• Femoral Neuropathy (diagnosis, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Injections
• Lidocaine (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement (methods)