Postpartum femoral neuropathy: relic of an earlier era?

Femoral neuropathy after childbirth is rarely encountered today, although around 1900 an incidence of up to 4.7% was found. A case of postpartum unilateral femoral neuropathy in a 29-year-old primigravida is described. The patient's labor was complicated by poor progression, a prolonged second stage (three hours), and midforceps delivery. The patient received both epidural anesthesia (requiring catheter manipulation) and spinal anesthesia. Total time in the dorsal lithotomy position was four hours; total duration of labor was 27 hours. After delivery, the patient experienced buckling at the right knee and numbness down the leg anteriorly. The electromyogram at one month was consistent with an acute femoral neuropathy. Information about other cases of postpartum lower extremity neuropathy was obtained by a retrospective review of all deliveries at a large maternity hospital between 1971 and 1987. Of 143,019 live births, there were three other cases of postpartum knee extensor weakness (2.8/100,000), five cases of postpartum footdrop (3.5/100,000), and two cases of meralgia paresthetica (1.4/100,000). Although the precise mechanism of injury remains unclear, the declining incidence of femoral neuropathy may reflect decreased duration of labor with modern obstetric practices, particularly more frequent Cesarean delivery.