Meralgia Paresthetica Due to Body Armor Wear in U.S. Soldiers Serving in Iraq: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Fargo, Matthew V.; Konitzer, Lisa N.

doi:10.7205/milmed.172.6.663

Cited by 27 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Meralgia presents as a paraesthesia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve on the anterolateral aspect of the thigh (Boulware, 2003;Fargo & Konitzer, 2007;Sanders & Nemeth, 1996). The nerve is considered vulnerable to entrapment as it is compressed against the anterior iliac spine when a waist belt, like that on a backpack, is tightened (Boulware, 2003).…”

Section: Digitalgia and Meralgia Associated With Load Carriagementioning

confidence: 98%

“…The nerve is considered vulnerable to entrapment as it is compressed against the anterior iliac spine when a waist belt, like that on a backpack, is tightened (Boulware, 2003). Recently, Fargo and Konitzer (2007) reported on two case studies of soldiers serving in Iraq, both of whom suffered meralgia due to prolonged wearing of body armour. In these two case studies, both soldiers still experienced symptoms a month after diagnoses.…”

Section: Digitalgia and Meralgia Associated With Load Carriagementioning

confidence: 98%

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Soldier occupational load carriage: a narrative review of associated injuries

Orr

Pope

Johnston

et al. 2013

International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion

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This narrative review examines injuries sustained by soldiers undertaking occupational load carriage tasks. Military soldiers are required to carry increasingly heavier occupational loads. These loads have been found to increase the physiological cost to the soldier and alter their gait mechanics. Aggregated research findings suggest that the lower limbs are the most frequent anatomical site of injury associated with load carriage. While foot blisters are common, other prevalent lower limb injuries include stress fractures, knee and foot pain, and neuropathies, like digitalgia and meralgia. Shoulder neuropathies (brachial plexus palsy) and lower back injuries are not uncommon. Soldier occupational load carriage has the potential to cause injuries that impact on force generation and force sustainment. Through understanding the nature of these injuries targeted interventions, like improved physical conditioning and support to specialised organisations, can be employed.

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Section: Digitalgia and Meralgia Associated With Load Carriagementioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Digitalgia and Meralgia Associated With Load Carriagementioning

confidence: 98%

Soldier occupational load carriage: a narrative review of associated injuries

Orr

Pope

Johnston

et al. 2013

International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion

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“…Heavy body armor, vibratory conditions, and other combat factors likely lead to these musculoskeletal issues in soldiers [4][5][6]. While body armor certainly protects against missiles and blasts, the protection comes at a biomechanical cost.…”

Section: Pain and Mental Health In Us Military Personnelmentioning

confidence: 98%

Catastrophizing and Pain in Military Personnel

Spevak

Buckenmaier²

2011

Curr Pain Headache Rep

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Combat-related injuries have been well documented for centuries. More recently, injuries suffered by US service members in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in a high number of survivable conditions. Polytrauma care in this setting must take into account both the physical and psychological injuries suffered by returning wounded warriors. Catastrophizing may occur when previously healthy individuals are faced with impairment and disfigurement. This is compounded with repeated operative procedures. Early detection and treatment of catastrophizing contributes to improved care of the wounded warrior. This article describes our experiences at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with catastrophizing in US service members returning from the current military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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“…Common causes include constrictive clothing and belts, and obesity or pregnancy, where the overhanging, protuberant abdomen compresses the nerve. Injury may also occur in the setting of anterior superior iliac spine enthesopathy, avulsion fracture, or bone-graft harvest procedure (14,16,18). Symptoms are numbness and tingling of the anterior lateral thigh in the distribution of the LFCN.…”

Section: Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nervementioning

confidence: 99%

US of the Peripheral Nerves of the Lower Extremity: A Landmark Approach

Yablon¹,

Hammer²,

Morag³

et al. 2016

RadioGraphics

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Ultrasonography (US) is commonly used to assess the peripheral nerves of the lower extremity because of its many advantages over magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The most obvious advantages over MR imaging are superior soft-tissue resolution, low cost, portability, lack of magnetic susceptibility artifact, and the ability to image patients who cannot undergo MR imaging. US has been shown to have equal specificity and greater sensitivity than MR imaging in the evaluation of peripheral nerves. Additional benefits are the capability of real-time and dynamic imaging, and the ability to scan an entire extremity quickly without the need for a patient to lie motionless for long periods of time, as with MR imaging. Any abnormal findings can be easily compared against the contralateral side. Published literature has shown that US has clinical utility in patients suspected of having peripheral nerve disease: US can be used to guide diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, as well as help confirm electrodiagnostic findings. Common indications for lower extremity peripheral nerve US are the evaluation for injury due to penetrating trauma, entrapment by scar tissue, or tumor. To confidently perform US of the peripheral nerves of the lower extremity, it is important to gain a thorough knowledge of anatomic landmarks and the course of each nerve. Readers who may not be familiar with US will be introduced to the basics of scanning the peripheral nerves of the lower extremity. Important anatomic landmarks and common sites of injury and entrapment will be reviewed.

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Meralgia Paresthetica Due to Body Armor Wear in U.S. Soldiers Serving in Iraq: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cited by 27 publications

References 8 publications

Soldier occupational load carriage: a narrative review of associated injuries

Soldier occupational load carriage: a narrative review of associated injuries

Catastrophizing and Pain in Military Personnel

US of the Peripheral Nerves of the Lower Extremity: A Landmark Approach

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