IATROGENIC FEMORAL NERVE INJURY FOLLOWING ABDOMINOPERINEAL RESECTION

Iatrogenic femoral nerve injury has been described following abdominal hysterectomy, aortic graft placement, inguinal herniorrhaphy, and ret roperitoneal hematoma formation after heparin anticoagulation. A 63-ye ar-old man sustained an injury to the femoral nerve subsequent to an a bdominoperineal resection. Most commonly, the nerve is injured by comp ression with a retractor or by hematoma formation. To avoid this compl ication, the surgeon must pay strict attention to the anatomy of the f emoral nerve and avoid compression of the nerve by retractors or by po stoperative hematomas.