Normal anatomy and variations of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in relation to the iliac crest: implications for anterior iliac crest bone grafts (726.10)

Anterior iliac crest bone grafting (AICBG) remains the gold standard for reconstructive procedures in orthopedic and oral-maxillofacial surgeries. It has been estimated that 10% of patients undergoing AICBG are at risk of injury to their lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). Injury to this nerve can result in numbness, burning, itching or pain sensations over the lateral aspect of the thigh, known as meralgia paresthetica. The course of the LFCN within the greater pelvis cannot be seen with imaging technologies. The objective of this study is to elucidate the 3D course and variability of the LFCN as it emerges from the psoas major muscle to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). Using 25 embalmed cadavers, the length and depth of the LFCN is measured from the ASIS to 7 cm posterior to the ASIS at 1 cm intervals. Preliminary results (n=10 sides) show these measurements are highly variable between cadavers and that there are three ways the nerve courses: convex, concave or straight course. The first th...