FEMORAL NEUROPATHY IN RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

Acute femoral neuropathy after renal transplantation is an uncommon an d rarely recognized complication. Recovery of the nerve is usual. Alth ough rare, five cases have come to our attention in the past twenty ye ars. A detailed clinical and electrophysiological analysis with a six month follow-up is presented. A review of sixteen other reported cases is also provided. The possible pathophysiology including direct compr ession and nerve ischemia, is discussed. We believe that nerve ischemi a, possibly caused by a steal phenomenon, occurs in all cases followin g the anastomosis of the graft renal artery to the internal iliac arte ry, with a superimposed component of compression in some cases. The se verity of ischemia probably determines the degree of recovery.