Comparative Efficacy of Pregabalin and Ultrasonography-Guided Lateral. Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Blokage for Meralgia Paresthetica. Sibel ÃaÄlar Okur ...
IJTRR 2017; 6 (2):146-152
Original Research Article
doi: 10.5455/ijtrr.000000256
International Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Research http://www.scopemed.org/?jid=12
E-ISSN 2278-0343
Comparative Efficacy of Pregabalin and Ultrasonography-Guided Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Blokage for Meralgia Paresthetica Sibel Çağlar Okur, Meltem Vural, Yasemin Pekin Doğan, Murat Mert, Nil Sayıner Çağlar Sibel Çağlar Okur1, Meltem Vural2, Yasemin Pekin Doğan1, Murat Mert3, Nil Sayıner Çağlar1 1 Istanbul Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic 2 Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic 3 Yeni Yüzyıl University Orthopedics and Traumatology Department ABSTRACT Objective: Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is characterized by paresthesia and/or pain on the front side of the thigh, caused by trapping of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) under the inguinal ligament. Ultrasonography-guided LFCN blockage is a diagnostic and therapeutic method, whereas first-line medical treatment is pregabalin. This study compared the efficacy of ultrasonography-guided LCFN blockage with oral pregabalin (300mg/day) in patients with MP. Materials and Methods: The study included 38 patients (15 males, 23 females) diagnosed with MP. These patients were randomized 1:1 to receive ultrasonography-guided LCFN blockage with 20 mg triamcinolone and 4 cc prilocaine, or 75 mg pregabalin b.i.d., increasing to 150 mg pregabalin b.i.d. one week later. Patients were evaluated at the beginning of treatment and 4 weeks later. Pain was evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS), and neuropathic pain was evaluated with the Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) scale. Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics, including body mass index (BMI) and the percentage of patients with diabetes mellitus, were similar in the two groups (p>0.05 each). DN4 measurements differed significantly before and after treatment in the LCFN blockage group (p
