Intraoperative Nerve Stimulation as an Approach for the Surgical Treatment of Genitofemoral Neuralgia

Authors

David A. Zuckerman, Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Jared B. Cooper, Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.Follow
Nitin K. Sekhri, Division of Pain Management, Department of Anesthesiology, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Matthew Bronstein, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.Follow
Ilya Shnaydman, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Logan Carr, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.Follow
Ammar Siddiqui, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Jared M. Pisapia, Department of Neurosurgery, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.Follow

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.12659/AJCR.940343

Journal Title

The American Journal of Case Reports

First Page

e940343

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-19-2023

Department

Neurosurgery

Second Department

Anesthesiology

Third Department

Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND Genitofemoral neuralgia is a pain syndrome that involves injury to the genitofemoral nerve and is frequently iatrogenic. We report intraoperative nerve localization using ultrasound, nerve stimulation, and the cremasteric reflex in the surgical treatment of genitofemoral neuralgia. CASE REPORT A 49-year-old man with a history of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with cannulation sites in bilateral inguinal regions presented with right groin numbness and pain following decannulation. His symptoms corresponded to the distribution of the genitofemoral nerve. He had a Tinel's sign over the midpoint of his inguinal incision. A nerve block resulted in temporary resolution of his symptoms. Due to the presence of a pacemaker, peripheral nerve neuromodulation was contraindicated. He underwent external neurolysis and neurectomy of the right genitofemoral nerve. Following direct stimulation and ultrasound for localization, the nerve was further localized intraoperatively using nerve stimulation with monitoring for the presence of the cremasteric reflex. At his 1-month postoperative visit, his right medial thigh pain had resolved and his right testicular pain 50% improved; his residual pain continued to improve at last evaluation 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS We report the successful use of nerve stimulation and the cremasteric reflex to aid in identification of the genitofemoral nerve intraoperatively for the treatment of genitofemoral neuralgia.

Recommended Citation

Zuckerman, D. A., Cooper, J. B., Sekhri, N. K., Bronstein, M., Shnaydman, I., Carr, L., Siddiqui, A., & Pisapia, J. M. (2023). Intraoperative Nerve Stimulation as an Approach for the Surgical Treatment of Genitofemoral Neuralgia. The American Journal of Case Reports, 24, e940343. https://doi.org/10.12659/AJCR.940343