Femoral nerve dysfunction

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Femoral nerve dysfunction

Alternative Names

Neuropathy - femoral nerve

Symptoms

Sensation changes in the thigh, knee, or leg, such as decreased sensation, numbness, tingling, burning, a feeling of the knee "giving way" or buckling, or (uncommonly) pain
Weakness of the knee or leg, including difficulty going up and down stairs -- especially down

Exams and Tests

An exam of the nerves and muscles (neuromuscular exam) of the legs shows femoral nerve dysfunction. You might have weakness when you straighten the knee or bend at the hip. Sensation changes are located on the front of the thigh and inner calf. The knee jerk reflex may be decreased or absent. You may have a loss of muscle mass (atrophy) in the quadriceps muscles of the front of the thigh.

Tests that reveal femoral nerve dysfunction may include:

EMG
MRI to check for masses or abnormal tissue (lesions)
Nerve conduction tests

You'll have tests based on the suspected cause of the dysfunction, which is suggested by your history, symptoms, and pattern of symptom development. These tests may include various blood tests, x-rays, scans, or other tests.


Femoral nerve damage

Review Date: 11/1/2007
Reviewed By: Luc Jasmin, M.D., Ph.D., Departments of Anatomy and Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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