Efficacy of Clinical Tests in the Diagnosis of Meralgia Paresthetica: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Meralgia paresthetica (MP), a common entrapment syndrome, presents with paresthesias in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Clinical tests used to diagnose MP are the pelvic compression test, neurodynamic testing, and Tinel's sign. The diagnostic accuracy of these three tests has not been analyzed to date. Hence, this study aims to analyze the sensitivity and specificity of these clinical tests. Case Study: This study was a hospital-based case-control study that included 30 electrophysiologically proven patients with MP. The data were gathered over a period of 6 months after obtaining institutional ethics committee clearance. Demographics and risk factors among our cases are in keeping with the global scenario. The sensitivity and specificity of the pelvic compression test were 86.7% and 93.0%, the Tinsel sign was 85.1% and 87.5%, and neurodynamic testing was 86.7% and 93.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study proves that these tests are a simple and accurate aid in the diagnosis of MP. These bedside clinical tests can be utilized to establish a diagnosis of MP in a setting of conflicting differentials such as lumbar canal stenosis or thoracolumbar junction disc pathologies and guide in choosing the next line of investigation.

Keywords: Tinel's sign; meralgia; neurodynamic testing; pelvic compression test.