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

Abstract

Meralgia Paraesthetica: Nerve stimulator‐guided injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine, a double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled study. Introduction meralgia paraesthetica 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 versus placebo. Methods After randomization, 10 patients received a nerve stimulator‐guided injection with methylprednisolone/lidocaine, 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=0.014). The VAS score in the methylprednisolone group did not show a significant reduction (baseline VAS 7.4, VAS week 12: 4.8 , p=0.053). There was no significant difference in pain reduction between the groups. Discussion We found no objective evidence for benefit from nerve stimulator‐guided injection with corticosteroids in meralgia paraesthetica, although this study is limited by a small sample size. Future placebo‐controlled studies using ultrasound‐guided injection are warranted.