What is meralgia paresthetica?

• A. Tight belt syndrome
• B. Entrapment of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
• C. Causes paresthesias of the anterolateral thigh
• D. Sciatic nerve entrapment at the hip

Answer: (B)

Meralgia paresthetica is caused by compression of a sensory nerve as it exits the pelvis, specifically the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. When this nerve is entrapped under the inguinal ligament near the ASIS, it produces numbness, tingling, or burning along the outer (anterolateral) part of the thigh. This distribution matches the territory of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which is why this option is the best description of the condition.

The other ideas relate to the syndrome in a less precise way: a tight belt can precipitate the problem, but the defining feature is the entrapment of the nerve itself; stating that it causes paresthesias of the anterolateral thigh describes a symptom, not the mechanism; and sciatic nerve entrapment would affect a different area and often involve motor symptoms, not just the outer thigh.