What Are the Causes of Femoral Nerve Damage?

The femoral nerve is located in the leg and is responsible for supplying sensation to the front of the thigh and the lower leg. If this nerve is damaged, it can result in a painful condition called femoral nerve dysfunction.

Identification

• When damage occurs to just one nerve group it is called mononeuropathy. In the case of the femoral nerve, mononeuropathy usually means that there is a local cause of the damage to the femoral nerve. There are other systemic disorders that can cause damage to the nerves all over the body.

Trauma

• Trauma to the leg can cause damage to the femoral nerve. This can include sports injuries, car accidents or an injury during surgery (such as the placement of a catheter).

Nerve Compression

• Prolonged pressure on the nerves from a disease related object (such as a tumor), can cause femoral nerve damage. This type of ongoing pressure is often made more complicated by decreased blood flow to the damaged area.

Surgery

• Femoral nerve damage may occur during surgeries or diagnostic tests. This risk is increased if the surgeon uses the lithotomy position during the procedure. In this position, the patient is positioned on his back with the thighs and legs flexed.

Diseases

• Certain diseases such as diabetes, tumors or internal bleeding into the abdominal and pelvic region may cause femoral nerve damage. Localized infections may also cause damage to the femoral nerve group.