An anatomic study of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

In this study, the course of the lateral femoral cutaneous n. was examined bilaterally in 22 cadavers. Seven of these 44 lateral femoral cutaneous nn. showed variations in their course, especially in their number of branches under the inguinal ligament. During operations where the lateral femoral cutaneous n. may be demaged or in its decompression surgery, the nerve is to be found under the inguinal ligament. 1.52 +/- 0.84 cm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine. This nerve can be found passing through the inguinal ligament in as many as four branches.