Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy following shoulder surgery in the beach chair position: a report of 4 cases.

Neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can present as pain, decreased sensation, and/or burning or tingling on the anterolateral thigh. We present 4 cases of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy following shoulder surgery in the beach chair position, all of which occurred in obese patients. This complication, to our knowledge, has never been reported in conjunction with the beach chair position. We believe that the neurapraxia was due to external compression by the patients' abdominal pannus. Full resolution of symptoms can be expected within 6 months following conservative management. A preoperative discussion regarding this complication should occur with obese patients undergoing shoulder surgery in the beach chair position.