Lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh lesions of iatrogenic nature: from the anatomical insidiousness to the evaluation of the medical responsibility

BACKGROUND: Lateral cutaneous of the thigh nerve lesion is a rare and old pathology. However, it is a returning disease, because the frequency of the nerve lesion is related to the development of surgical procedures of the hip and pelvis (e.g., ankle arthroprostesis by anterior approach), and of the abdominal surgery (e.g., inguinal hernioplasty). METHODS: There is a need to diagnose the lesion and to establish the various therapeutic possibilities of nerve reconstruction. The authors present our multicenter series of cases. RESULTS: The causes of the injury and the clinical interpretation and the professional responsibilities from the medical legal point of view are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the not negligible recurrence of injuries to the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh during hip replacement operations, carried out anteriorly, and inguinal hernioplasty, the medico legal aspects of this nerve lesions are very important.