AN ANATOMIC STUDY OF THE LATERAL FEMORAL CUTANEOUS NERVE

In this study, the course of the lateral femoral cutaneous n. was exam ined bilaterally in 22 cadavers. Seven of these 44 lateral femoral cut aneous nn, showed variations in their course, especially in their numb er of branches under the inguinal ligament. During operations where th e lateral femoral cutaneous n. may be damaged 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 bran ches.