[Injury of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh. A rare complication following gynecologic surgery].

Femoral nerve impairment subsequent to gynaecological operations is well known. Injury to the N. cutaneous femoris lateralis has not yet been reported either in gynaecological or neurological literature. --At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical School Hannover, 8 cases of neuropathy of this nerve have been observed from 1973 to 1982. They occurred after vaginal as well as after abdominal operations. The cause of the injury may be a short, but extreme hyperextension of the leg while bringing the patient into lithotomy position. During abdominal operations continuous pressure of a self retaining retractor may lead to the damage. --A similar case however, where the causes mentioned above were absent, revealed that other possibilities must also be considered.