The Hip Abduction Maneuver (HAM) to diagnose meralgia paraesthetica.

BACKGROUND

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a compressive neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), characterized by pain, paresthesia, and numbness in the anterolateral thigh. Despite its well-documented etiology, diagnosing MP remains challenging, as complementary tests such as electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound may yield normal results due to anatomical variations and the dynamic nature of nerve compression.

OBJECTIVE

This study introduces the Hip Abduction Maneuver (HAM) as a novel diagnostic tool for LFCN compression and investigates its utility in clinical and intraoperative assessments METHOD: The maneuver, inspired by Hagert's triad, evaluates hip abduction weakness as a functional indicator of LFCN entrapment. MP can result from mechanical, metabolic, iatrogenic, traumatic, or anatomical factors. Compression occurs under the inguinal ligament, where orthogonal taping (OKT) can serve as a mechanical relief test to support diagnosis. HAM exploits afferent inhibitory responses, assessing hip abduction strength before and after decompression maneuvers. The Scratch Collapse Test (SCT) further improves diagnostic accuracy. The Hip Abduction Maneuver (HAM) and Orthogonal KinesioTaping (OKT) enhance the clinical assessment of meralgia paresthetica, particularly in cases with inconclusive imaging.

CONCLUSION

Their integration into preoperative evaluation and intraoperative validation may improve diagnostic precision and optimize surgical outcomes. Further studies are required to validate reproducibility and long-term efficacy.