IATROGENIC FEMORAL NERVE INJURY FOLLOWING ABDOMINOPERINEAL RESECTION

Iatrogenic femoral nerve injury has been described following abdominal hysterectomy, aortic graft placement, inguinal herniorrhaphy, and retroperitoneal hematoma formation after heparin anticoagulation. A 63-year-old man sustained an injury to the femoral nerve subsequent to an abdominoperineal resection. Most commonly, the nerve is injured by compression with a retractor or by hematoma formation. To avoid this complication, the surgeon must pay strict attention to the anatomy of the femoral nerve and avoid compression of the nerve by retractors or by postoperative hematomas.