Meralgia paresthetica: electrophysiologic study.

Conduction velocity of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was studied orthodromically. The mean value in 20 control subjects was 57.51 +/- 8.61 (SD) m/sec. In 9 patients with meralgia paresthetica, the sensory nerve condition in the symptomatic nerves was definitely abnormal: nerve potential was absent in 6 and condition velocity was slow in 3. In 1 patient, a possible asymptomatic entrapment neuropathy was suggested by this test. Conduction velocity of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can be used as an objective diagnostic aid in meralgia paresthetica.