Lateral Femoral Cutaneous

by | Aug 31, 2021

Indications

  • Lacerations, abscesses to lateral thigh

Contraindications

  • Infection overlying injection site
  • Allergy to local anesthetic

Equipment

  • 5cc of local anesthetic of choice
  • 22G needle
  • Cleansing solution
  • Ultrasound with high-frequency linear transducer
  • Ultrasound transducer sterile cover

Preparation

Position

Position the patient supine

Ultrasound

Landmarks

LCFN: Lateral cutaneous femoral nerve, TFL: tensor fascia lata

  1. Place the transducer in transverse plane approximately 2cm medial and inferior to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS)
  2. Identify the sartorius and tensor fascia latae (TFL) muscles
  3. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve can be identified superficial to and between sartorius and TFL

Technique

  1. Introduce needle from lateral aspect
  2. In-plane needle visualization
  3. The nerve may be better visualized after infiltration of the fascial layer with local anesthetic
  4. Infiltrate remaining local anesthetic around identified lateral femoral cutaneous nerve

Source

  1. Highland Ultrasound